Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 44

My Blessing - Podcast

bless·ing     noun     /ˈblesiNG/

A beneficial thing for which one is grateful

the act or words of a person who blesses

Many years ago I was sitting in an audience listening to a beautiful message given by a well-accomplished speaker. He said something that has stayed with me to this very day. In fact, his words are always at the forefront of my mind each time I stand on a platform in front of a listening crowd.

“I’m aware that the greatest gift you can ever give someone is the gift of your own time. Thank you for giving me that gift today.”

I’ve never forgotten that.

When people give you their ear, they are offering you a sliver of their life they can never recover. Time is a precious commodity whether it belongs to a crowded group in an auditorium or just one person sitting on the other side of the table at Starbucks. Any person lending you their ear is giving you the valuable gift of their time.

Think for a minute. When was the last time somebody really listened to you? Not the last time you talked but the last time you felt you were really heard. The attentive eyes of that other person made you feel valued and accepted, loved and affirmed. This is the ripple effect that listening always creates. It's beautiful . . .and far too rare.

Listening is a discipline. It's the act of regarding others as more important than yourself. It's not about scouring their comments in search of your own personal interests but humbly pouring yourself out so that you may look out for the interests of others.
Most of the time we can be so focused on ourselves and preoccupied with our own feelings that every conversation can ultimately become about us and how we’re being affected. But in our fast-paced, hurried culture, it can be difficult to pay good attention to someone else for long.

It takes discipline and counter-cultural intention to listen well.

So, let's chat about it today on the podcast and then make a resolution together. Let's choose to be listeners and battle against the press of time and urgency and the hunger to hurry through conversations with others. Instead, let's choose to lean in quietly, emphatically, purposefully. . .

And listen.

It’s your gift. Your blessing.

Give it to whomever you can.

Our resolution this week:

I will be a woman who is quick to listen and slow to speak. I will care about the concerns of others and esteem them more highly than myself.

Questions to ponder this week…

What is the most difficult part of listening for you?
Recall the last time you genuinely felt heard. Make a list of some one-word adjectives that describe how this encounter made you feel about what you were saying? About yourself?
Who are the people in your life who would benefit the most if you took the time to listen to them?

Bless you,

Priscilla

Please enjoy the podcast below:

Enjoying Your Surroundings

We serve an amazing Creator.
Simply amazing.

The landscapes, the mountains, the sunsets, sunrises. There's absolutely nothing that can compare.

Which is why I'm always excited to visit my sister who lives on an island in the beautiful Bahamas. The ocean is literally just across the street from her front yard.
Across...the street. Are you hearing me?
Walk out the front door, take a few steps through the front yard, cross the barely-there two lane street, and boom! The Atlantic Ocean. In all its splendor.

I've got proof :)

        

I was there visiting her not too long ago and in between my scheduled naps, I was out there on the beach every single moment I could get. And when the heat had consumed me, I went back in the house, plopped myself on the couch and just stared out the window. I would stay indoors just long enough to cool down and then do it all over again.

And where was my sister during all this? Indoors.

That's right, people save up money for months to come and spend just a few days in this paradise. And then there are those like my sister. She lives right there and is no longer amazed by the beauty resting right outside her front door.

Does she not know?!

She knows. Oh, she knows. Yes, it's beautiful, but it's also just 'home'. The place where she does life. Her place of comfort and normalcy. The ocean has not lost its splendor but she's become so very use to it. This is everyday life for her. She no longer marvels at her view with the same wide eyes of her visitors. On the other hand she lives her day to day changing diapers, helping a friend, running errands and making a home.
She just happens to live there.

Just like San Francisco has the Golden Gate and LA has the Hollywood sign, they have...

(soft, pink, luxurious sand, beautiful driftwood, and crystal blue)

...water.
Just water.

No big deal.

Until someone in need of a taste of paradise comes to visit. I arrived with fresh eyes, a new appreciation and a different reality.

And it got me to thinking...

What in MY surroundings have I gotten so used to, that I am no longer in awe of its beauty. What do I take for granted because 'it's always there'? To dig even deeper, WHO in my surroundings do I take for granted because they are always there?

Ouch.

How can I savor and appreciate what's around me in my everyday?
I have decided that I don't need for something new to happen in order for me to get a fresh take on the things I see everyday.
So, I'm closing my eyes.
Yes, I'm closing my eyes. For two whole minutes within my day I close my eyes.

(These two minutes feel like one second away from forever, by the way. If you don't believe me try it for yourself. Go on. Right now. I'll wait.)

I've begun this routine of periodically closing my eyes and LISTENING to what's around me. Each time I am surprised by the normal things that I began to notice. The hum of a heating vent, rain tapping against a window pane, and the wind rustling through the pile of leaves outside. I find myself slowing down and appreciating the little things.

No, I may not live within walking distance of pink sand, but the splendor, His splendor, is all around me. And friend, it is all around you, too.

Take a few minutes today, close your eyes and get a fresh take at the beauty that He has placed right in the middle of your day.

~ Nicole ~

Guest Blogger: Jen Hatmaker | Power of the Home

There are some people who put words on paper and call themselves writers.
Then there are others who are actually real writers. They were born that way.

Some people are professional speakers - polished, poised, rehearsed.
Others are teachers - real, vulnerable, authentic.

Some people are church-goers.

Others are real followers of Jesus Christ.

Jen Hatmaker is a real writer whose words light up a page in a way that nearly sets it on fire. Would-be writers read her blogs and books in hopes of learning how to string a phrase together the way she does. Every message she delivers - in print or from a platform - drips with a wisdom that can only be garnered in the well-worn trenches of living well. She doesn't speak - she teaches out of the depths of experience.

Jen has lived well.

She has made choices, some of them hard and unpopular, that have set her apart from the sparkly, polished world of Christian business and put her in the all too rare category of authenticity that thousands are drawn to. She's a Jesus follower, plain and simple. She's not interested in pleasing or impressing.

She's a relief. A breath of fresh air.

I like her.

I like her eagerness to live a life that honors God in a simplistically, bold way that rubs off on you. It's contagious I tell you. Down-right catchy.

Best of all, she not afraid of carbs. She'll eat a plate full of migas for breakfast with me and not blink an eye. That a girl.

Ya'll enjoy :)

Priscilla

When we tricked our best friends into starting a church with us, we bought houses on the same street in south Austin and launched a neighborhood domination campaign. We were simply determined to love our neighbors and force them to love us win them over.

This was our premise: what if we loved our neighbors by…um…actually loving them? What if we spent real time and energy on them? What if we were fun? What if we set aside agendas and simply lived the gospel our in our ‘hood? What if we practiced patience and longevity, trusting the Holy Spirit to do what He does?

In a culture where the church is losing ground daily, relationally investing in people is the key to bridging the gap. Rather than imagining church attendance as the bulls-eye, it’s time to consider ourselves missionaries, sent as representatives of the kingdom to our neighborhoods and communities and cities. It is through our sustained presence and proximity that we are able to win a hearing for the gospel again.

One of the easiest gatherings was a neighborhood book club hosted in my home. (Christian women have long enjoyed book clubs, but we normally do them together.) We decided to use this as a connecting point with our unchurched and dechurched neighbors, and let me tell you: no hay problema. Food? Drinks? Great books? A bunch of women with no kids? I don’t think a single neighbor said no.

As it is with any gathering of women, conversation always took a thousand turns. In no time, we found ourselves in deep territory with one another, sharing far more than our literary opinions. Those evenings around my living room turned into genuine friendships, spiritual conversations, and true community.

And the upside was, every time I booted my hubby and kids out and spent all day cooking delicious food not for them, I got to say, “Babe, it’s for Jesus.”

- Jen

My Best - Podcast

best   adjective   \’best\

of the most excellent

effective

desirable type or quality

I think we all know what it means to give our best simply because you’ve probably already been doing it! You know, working as hard as you can, pressing ahead even when you feel like giving up and getting lazy, making the necessary sacrifices that keep you on point and on task. You’re likely getting exhausted just thinking about a resolution that has anything to do with giving more than you already are.

Here's our resolution: 

 I will seek to devote the best of myself, my time, and my talents to the primary roles the Lord has entrusted to me in this phase of my life.

Yup. I get it. I feel the same way.

But here's the deal....don’t get so hung up on the “giving the best of myself” part that you don’t get to the other part – the part that changes the playing field of this resolution: getting clarity on your “primary roles”.

That's the key.

Fight the urge to spread yourself too thin. Hone in on what matters today. Achieving clarity on your primary roles is essential. Being your best at what God wants you to be doing – that’s we need to shoot for.
As you’re able to determine what your current priorities should be, and as you’re obedient in setting other things aside for the time being, don’t fret that you’ll never again have the opportunity to spend time pursuing them. It certainly will not be on the shelf forever. Just for now - freeing you up to be fully engaged in what matters most.

To the glory of God.

Questions to think about:

If you have a tendency to spread yourself too thinly, in what kind of state does this typically tend to leave you at the end of the day or the start of a new week?

Ask a wise, honest friend who knows you well how she thinks you’re managing your current priorities.

As you think about those things you want to do but can never seem to make time for, remember the biblical appeal that says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). How could this deliberate act of trust and perspective free you to invest yourself more joyfully in today?

When honoring God is your focus, it pares down your purpose and narrows your focus. Carefully reconsider this sentence in light of your own personal circumstances, then record your thoughts:
How does a focus on honoring God…

lighten the burden of the perfectionist?
inspire you to give your best effort?

When faced with an activity like this – one that you find particularly challenging – how are you encouraged by knowing that God will empower your efforts designed to bring Him glory?

Bless you,

Priscilla

You're Invited!

I love the Bible.

Have since I was a little girl.

But, the thing is, I didn't know that I could hear God speak to me through it until I was much older. In my twenties really. The Scriptures were more stories and great character studies than a personal encounter with God. Now, I approach the Bible differently - expectantly and in anticipation of what He might want to say to me.

The Lord brought me to tears over this one:

Moses when up to God . . .The Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud so that the people may hear when I speak with you. . . Exodus 19:3,9

Needed to read this.

You see, I can be a bit of a worrier. I try not to be but if left uncheck anxiety could have its way with me. In just a bit over a month, I will be speaking to a group of women gathering in New Orleans for th PSL simulcast. And this event will be different than most. We'll be simulcasting into hundreds of churches and homes that have signed up to participate in this conference with us. There will be women from literally all over the world tuning in, in their different time zones.

Honestly, the thought is almost too much for me to fathom. So many questions:

What will I say?

What will I wear?

Will the technogical details run smoothly?

Will I be relaxed enough to communicate clearly?

I know for certain you've felt this same way before - as you've prepared for a Bible study or to host a party or to take a test or to make an important decision. It's a worry that can sneak up on you and then rob you blind - of your sleep, your solace and your ability to concentrate on anything else.

And with that sense mounting, I slipped into God's Word for my daily reading and found Moses going up to God. . . . and God coming down to Him.

There it was - a clear word for me from Exodus 19. My heart burned and my spirit confirmed that this was God speaking directly to me through the story of another leader who had people waiting to receive guidance and direction. Moses wasn't concerned about what he'd say or not say, or how he would effectively lead and minister to these 2 million pilgrims, he just "went up to God" . . . and God took care of the rest. Yahweh would allow the people to be ministered to out of the overflow of the conversation He'd have with his servant. God would allow them to hear.

So. . . I'm meeting with God and am so excited about what He will ask me to share with you on April 5th. The fire in my heart is already burning as I am beginning to sense His direction for us. Will you plan on joining me? There are 1,600 of us that will be meeting together in New Orleans but you can participate from where ever you are. There is probably a host church in your area or you can gather some girlfriends in your home to watch on a laptop computer. Your church can even host the event! Either way, we'll all be together around His Word and worship.

 I'll be looking forward to seeing you. I can't wait to hear what God will speak to us! Register today!

Priscilla

      

Guest Blogger: Jada Edwards | Moving Mountains

Sunday school.

Sleep-overs.

Hand written notes.

Late night phone calls.

Matching Tee-shirts.

These are the kinds of things that come to mind when I think of Jada Edwards. We grew up together. Her's was one of the only houses that my parents would allow me to stay at overnight and her friendship was just a cozy as her bed. This woman knows more about me than I'd ever care to willingly reveal . . and she loves me anyway. She is a secret-keeper, a confidant, an encourager and a serious friend - the kind you keep for a lifetime.

So, I have.

Watching her journey has been one of my greatest joys. Deeply engrained in a corporate America career, her world was turned upside down when she met and married one of my Dallas Seminary classmates. Together, she and her minister husband started and church. . . and Just. Like. That. she was a pastor's wife.

I've admired her grace and dignity through the transition, her patience and endurance through the hardships and her continue desire to press into God and His Word every step of the way. Each message she shares, through her teachings and writings, are evidence of her deep rooted walk with God. She's thoughtful and pensive, funny and witty all at the same time.

That's what makes Jada. . .well. . .Jada.

Enjoy her post today. I needed to hear it. . .and so do you.

Blessings,

Priscilla

Saw a very cool photo today of the tallest mountain on our planet.

Can you find it?

If you look closely you'll see it in the middle of the photo. Can you believe that's the imposing and revered Mt. Everest? Although it's over 29,000 feet (that's like 20 empire state buildings) it simply looks like an average mountain from just 250 miles above earth. It looks far less intimidating and much more like another bumpy place that almost anyone could conquer.

I wonder what it looks like from an even higher vantage point...

Hardly noticeable.

There have been well over 200 deaths as men and women have tried to master this mountain. There have been thousands of failed attempts. For almost a century people have used every tool, strategy and strength to attain this lofty (literally) goal - it calls climbers to risk everything.

But it's amazing how vantage point can change the vision of a thing.

How perspective can make the overwhelming seem overhyped.

Looking at it from the ground up can be daunting. I ask myself "How will I even begin to conquer this thing?" I usually assess my skills and gifts, find the right tools and get equipped. Then I work on several techniques and spend countless hours, days, or weeks stressing over strategies. My strength never seems to be enough. My vantage point is too low. If I could just "set my mind on things above" (Col 3:2) I could ask God to show me that same mountain from his vantage point. He would gladly, yet gently and graciously, lift the veil to reveal His omniscient outlook. He would say to me...

"this thing that holds your joy hostage is a just another thing I hold in my hand."

So when my mountains feel like this...

I must cling to the truth that a day is coming where....

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed...(Isaiah 40)

And in the mean time....

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Matt. 17)

Here's what it boils down to:

One day every Everest will be eliminated.
All mountains aren't meant to be climbed, some are meant to be moved.
Mountains are strengthened by fear but moved by faith (think mustard seed).

Are you up for a little mountain moving today?

- Jada

Authentically Me - Podcast

au·then·tic adjective \ə-ˈthen-tik, ȯ-\

real or genuine

not copied or false

true and accurate

So glad your here.

In today’s podcast I’d like to encourage you to be the authentic you. The you that God has intricately created – that includes flaws and all. When we deny our uniqueness (your talents, your gifts, your purpose) you’re doing a disservice to yourself and to those around you. Even if you have not be inherently pleased with the person He’s made you to be or even if you may not be abundantly happy with the circumstances you’re currently living, you can be sure that God has planted you here with design and intention.

He loves you enough to make you like no other.

You are one-of-a-kind. The only model like it.

There’s so much value in your significant strengths, gifts and ability. We don’t have to seek to impress or outperform others and we don’t have to feel ashamed by what we don’t have and can’t do. We can relish the opportunity to stand as a living, walking, eating, breathing example of what God’s grace looks like in a woman He has set apart.

We often spend our time trying to change who we are instead of bringing the fullness of who we are in to every circumstance of our lives. Don’t waste time trying to be someone else. Give the Lord all that you are.

Authentically.

Today let’s make a resolution to believe in the value that has been ascribed to us by God and to live it out authentically.

Here's this week's resolution:

I will accept and celebrate my uniqueness, and will esteem and encourage the distinctions I admire in others.

Now, this resolution doesn’t only affect you. It will also effect the women around you. When they see you walking in great confidence, it gives them the freedom to do the same.

Celebrate your sisters for their uniqueness. Authentically appreciate the traits you admire in them. Instead of being jealous, applaud and encourage them. There isn’t another person on this entire planet that looks, thinks, and acts the way you do or the way she does. Each of you is a gift to the world.

Here are a few questions I’d like for you to answer during your quiet time...

Record uniquenesses that other people see in you. Which of these surprise you?
Record how you can be more intentional about using and celebrating these characteristics.
Consider the things you may have failed to do because you felt ill equipped or unworthy to participate. Choose one of them to begin doing this week.
Choose at least one of the following verses to study and memorize: 
Ephesians 2:10 – a declaration of your importance to God


Jeremiah 1:5 – a confirmation of your selection by God


2 Corinthians 3:5 – a verification of your sufficiency in God

Be an “As-Is” woman. When you listen to the podcast, you’ll see why.

Bless you,

Priscilla

What Will Your Legacy Be?

My 2nd son recently decided to join the Children's Drama Ministry at our church. I balked at the idea at first - not because I don't like drama or because I didn't think he'd be good at. Just because I wasn't sure I wanted to add anything else to our calendar. You know how it is - those few weekly evenings that are unfilled feel like a breath of fresh air, right?

I eventually gave in. Found out that the practices were only bi-monthly and, much to his delight, we became thespians.

Just. Like. That.

Yesterday, was his first production. It was an ode to African American History month and hi-lighted several famous individuals from the past. There was Wilma Rudolph, Fredrick Douglas, Wally Amos, Mae Jemison, Emmitt Smith, Martin Luther King Jr. and. . .

Well, that's Tony Evans. Can't you see the resemblance? :)

I watched my boy spend the last few weeks rehearsing his lines and trying to nail down some specific "Tony Evans" movements to bring life to his monologue. We talked about his grandfather and had a few conversations about the kind of man he is, the way he looks when he talks, the kind of things he talks about and things he likes to do. Then, my son hit the stage (in front of the Sunday school classes) and brought his own grandfather to life - in a "this-is-my-first-time, I'm-a bit-nervous" kind of way.

It was cute.

And it got me thinking.  

One day, I'll may have a grandchild that might sit and ponder my actions and words and decisions. Maybe not to portray my life in a Sunday musical but just as she or he considers their legacy and seeks to chart out their own course. The kind of person I choose to be right now could be a topic of discussion a generation from now. Am I living in a way that is worth remembering and rehashing.

What traditions do I want to leave behind?
What type of faith do I want to instill?
What patterns do I want to set?

Questions like these are the kind I need to be asking myself so that I live a life that my grandchildren can be proud of.

What will your legacy be? What are you doing today to work toward that goal? Post a comment. I'd love to know.

Bless you today,

Priscilla

Guest Blogger: Paige Greene | God Can and He Has Not

I LOVE PAIGE GREENE!

That is all.

As the director of adult events at LifeWay Christian Resources, Paige's plate is filled up to overflowing as she and her team organize events, conferences and simulcasts to bless and encourage God's people. Hundreds of thousands of folks all over the world are impacted every year by what this woman does.

Including me.

She and I have been in ministry partnership for nearly a decade now. We've traveled together, served women together, prayed together and had hours of meetings strategizing about how we can best partner with God and honor Him through our work. It didn't take long for our working relationship to become a closely knit friendship.

We're friends.

Like the kind of friends that no longer need business/ministry affairs to keep us connected. We just love each other and would share coffee, chocolate, a movie and a pedicure even if there were no upcoming event to plan.

This woman is also a fantastic leader. I've watched her deal beautifully with the delicate balance of leading others while loving and serving them. She's the kind of boss you've always wanted - inspiring, teaching, encouraging, befriending and treating you like a peer. She's casual, spunky and gracious with her team while garnering their respect and admiration at the same time. Remarkable.

Best of all, she loves Jesus and sharing Him with every person she meets. Her vulnerability and willingness to encourage others around the topic of divorce, singleness and remarriage has been a gift to so many sisters.

She's a beautiful woman with a beautiful message.

Enjoy her writing. . . and then, the next time you're at a LifeWay event look for the spunky, forty-something, blonde running around with a smile on her face and a Bible in her hand and say hello.

Bless you,

Priscilla

Years ago, I was in a relationship with a man I fell hard for but after a couple of months he decided he wanted to still be my “special friend” (that’s another blog post) but did not want a romantic relationship with me. So for more than a year, he and I were close friends and it was rough on my heart. I pined for him the whole time and just knew my fun self would woo him back eventually.

During that time, I circled Proverbs 21:1 in my Bible and asked God to turn this guy’s (we’ll call him Jake because he was Jake-esque) heart in my direction. Proverb’s 21:1 says: “A king's heart is like streams of water in the LORD's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses” (HCSB). So I reasoned with God, if He could turn a King’s heart, then he could turn Jake’s heart to me; easy for God right? “Flow it like a stream toward me” I prayed and prayed, for months.

And then one day, God gently said to me… “Paige, yes I can turn it, and I have not.”

BOOM! OUCH! Prayer answered.

Looking back, I can clearly see Jake was not the man, nor the life situation that God had for me. God had this whole Nashville, Women’s events adventure for me that I would have never left Jake for had I known. I could not see it, but God could.

Are you longing for a husband? Praying for a husband? I surely am. There is nothing wrong with that. But you have a heavenly Father with a big filter over your head and no one’s getting through until He approves its right for your life and the purposes He has for you.

Don’t fight the filter!

It is there for your protection, not rejection!

As I look back on 10 years since my divorce and the long road it has been. I know without a doubt that God could have delivered a husband to me, and He has not, at least not yet. If I had known 10 years ago how long this season of singleness would have stretched, I might have despaired. But the beauty of God not revealing my future to me is that I didn’t know so I continued to look to Him. The older I get, the more I am just astounded at the tenderness and kindness of God’s heart towards me who deserves it not. Jesus is more, has more, loves more. So, somehow, this withholding is for my good.

And these ten years have not been love-less. I have been able to spend so much more time with my widowed mother, disciple my four teen-aged nieces, visit extended family and friends and grow rich relationships with them I could never have had if I were married. And, I’ve been able to serve in ministry more.

So as Valentine’s Day approaches, don’t feel sorry for yourself when you pass the wall-to-wall pink heart box displays in Wal-Mart! Look for love in your life and if there isn’t enough, go spread some! 1 John 4 says: “We love because he first loved us!”

Single woman, single girl, hear me. YOU CAN TRUST GOD WITH YOUR FUTURE! You can trust that God is for you and will apply what is best to your life, like a good father does. If He has not answered your prayers in the way you have wanted him to, it is for your ultimate good, God’s type of “good”… is far better than a box of chocolates (which is really good).

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8.

 

Paige

Surprisingly Satisfied - Podcast

Several years ago I had so much fun writing a book called "The Resolution For Women". Honestly, it was one of the most challenging projects I've ever undertaken. It stretched me in every way you can imagine. Since it covered such a wide range of topics, I had to think through concepts and ideas I'd never really tackled in such personal depth before.

I've been thinking about these concepts again lately and thought it might be fun to talk about them with you. Every Wednesday for the next 7 weeks, we will be posting a podcast that I pray will bless and challenge you. These podcasts are just a little glimpse into the themes presented in the book that God has used to change me in more ways that I can even begin to count.

So beginning today, meet me here with a cup of coffee, listen and enjoy.

Today, I want to talk about beauty of contentment. Being Surprisingly Satisfied.

If you're anything like me there has likely been a season or two in your life that you've rushed to get through. Have you ever felt like you are in a race with yourself to finish something so that you can move on to what's coming next? Have you noticed that you're life is marked by “hurriedness”?

After you listen to the podcast today, I’d love for you to ponder a few questions. Let them sink into your heart over the next week and post a comment so that we can chat about it.

What you have you been hurrying through during this season in your life?
What have you been hurrying to get to?
What might God be trying to grow in your character or cement in your relationship with Him by keeping you separated from some of the things you want but don’t yet have?
What are the things/people you are missing out on enjoying or appreciating because you are discounting their presence in your life right now?

Don't miss out on the beauty of all that God has for you in this current season of life.

Make a resolution, like the one I've written below, to live with a spirit of contentment.

I do solemnly resolve to embrace my current season of life and will maximize my time in it. I will resist the urge to hurry through or circumvent any portion of my journey but will live with a spirit or contentment.

It’s a resolution to be satisfied. It’s a resolution that will change your life.

Bless you sister,

Priscilla

Enjoy the podcast: