Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 47

Guest Blogger: Nicole Reyes | Fast - Forward, Please!

On one of the first occasions that I encountered Nicole Reyes she was on a platform speaking to a crowded auditorium of 3000 women. Somehow, she carried a delicate balance of authoritative confidence and tenderness at the same time and the audience was endeared to her immediately.

She was on fire.

For nearly on hour, I sat on the edge of my seat as this young woman (only twenty-seven years old at the time) taught about the importance of younger women gleaning from the lives of older ones. She opened up her Bible and pointed out jewels of insight from the mentoring relationship of Elijah to Elisha, and then bravely challenged us young women about the disservice we do to ourselves by being arrogant and unteachable. She told us, in so many words, to stop acting like we know everything and to position ourselves as learners who are willing to listen to women who have much more maturity, wisdom and experience.

We were all breathless.

She got a standing ovation.

Nicole's wisdom is uncanny for her years. She is a leader that God is raising up to influence this generation for His glory.

Get to know her. You'll be so glad that you did :)

I certainly am.

Priscilla

 

None of us likes to wait. Is there anything more annoying than sitting in a waiting room??? Or driving behind a really slow driver??? Or having to wait in a long line at the grocery store??? Some things in life we’d prefer to speed up a bit!

But when it comes to fulfilling purpose and destiny, there are just some things (LIKE CHARACTER) that refuse to be put on the fast track.

If our lives were movies, we would prefer to fast-forward through certain parts −− mainly the ones where we feel like we’re just waiting for the action to heat up. Can we skip the opening credits, the slow-paced back story, so we can get to the good stuff −− like the car chase and the explosions and the showdown between the good guy and the bad guy, ultimately ending with the leading love interests living happily ever after?

(Yes, I am aware that if there were a movie made of my life, it probably wouldn’t include a car chase or an explosion, but you get the idea!)

We all wish we had that real-life fast-forward button. We wish we could fast-forward through the under-paid, crazy-hours job to get that promotion. We wish we could fast-forward past our singleness and press play on our wedding day. We wish we could fast-forward through the challenges in our marriage or family and get to the good stuff −− the stuff famous authors write relationship and parenting books about.

But then I remember King David from the Bible.

Think about David, exiled from Israel even though he was anointed to be the next king. Out of jealousy and insecurity, King Saul plotted to kill poor David. David was forced out of his home, lived in enemy territory, posed as a mental patient, hid in caves, and was surrounded by disgruntled men who at one point wanted to kill him. He was misunderstood, persecuted and lied about… and he hadn’t done anything to deserve it.

Glimmers of a great king shined through during those hard times. David became disciplined. He became wise. He became generous. He became strong. There were things forged inside of David in those caves, in the midst of exile. While King Saul was seeking to kill David, God was making a king out of David.

Perhaps the very things we are in such a hurry to fast-forward through are the very things that make us… make us more Christ-like. Make us stronger. Make us purpose-minded. Make us wiser.

So the next time we feel the need to try to push the fast-forward button by pleading with God in prayer, or fantasizing about quitting or escaping our responsibilities, or throwing a pity party… why not first ask ourselves:

What is God up to in this moment of my life? What is He developing in my character as part of the divine purpose He has for me? How is He preparing me for what He has already prepared for me? ☺

Guest Blogger: Nicole Reyes | Fast - Forward, Please!

On one of the first occasions that I encountered Nicole Reyes she was on a platform speaking to a crowded auditorium of 3000 women. Somehow, she carried a delicate balance of authoritative confidence and tenderness at the same time and the audience was endeared to her immediately.

She was on fire.

For nearly on hour, I sat on the edge of my seat as this young woman (only twenty-seven years old at the time) taught about the importance of younger women gleaning from the lives of older ones. She opened up her Bible and pointed out jewels of insight from the mentoring relationship of Elijah to Elisha, and then bravely challenged us young women about the disservice we do to ourselves by being arrogant and unteachable. She told us, in so many words, to stop acting like we know everything and to position ourselves as learners who are willing to listen to women who have much more maturity, wisdom and experience.

We were all breathless.

She got a standing ovation.

Nicole's wisdom is uncanny for her years. She is a leader that God is raising up to influence this generation for His glory.

Get to know her. You'll be so glad that you did :)

I certainly am.

Priscilla

 

None of us likes to wait. Is there anything more annoying than sitting in a waiting room??? Or driving behind a really slow driver??? Or having to wait in a long line at the grocery store??? Some things in life we’d prefer to speed up a bit!

But when it comes to fulfilling purpose and destiny, there are just some things (LIKE CHARACTER) that refuse to be put on the fast track.

If our lives were movies, we would prefer to fast-forward through certain parts −− mainly the ones where we feel like we’re just waiting for the action to heat up. Can we skip the opening credits, the slow-paced back story, so we can get to the good stuff −− like the car chase and the explosions and the showdown between the good guy and the bad guy, ultimately ending with the leading love interests living happily ever after?

(Yes, I am aware that if there were a movie made of my life, it probably wouldn’t include a car chase or an explosion, but you get the idea!)

We all wish we had that real-life fast-forward button. We wish we could fast-forward through the under-paid, crazy-hours job to get that promotion. We wish we could fast-forward past our singleness and press play on our wedding day. We wish we could fast-forward through the challenges in our marriage or family and get to the good stuff −− the stuff famous authors write relationship and parenting books about.

But then I remember King David from the Bible.

Think about David, exiled from Israel even though he was anointed to be the next king. Out of jealousy and insecurity, King Saul plotted to kill poor David. David was forced out of his home, lived in enemy territory, posed as a mental patient, hid in caves, and was surrounded by disgruntled men who at one point wanted to kill him. He was misunderstood, persecuted and lied about… and he hadn’t done anything to deserve it.

Glimmers of a great king shined through during those hard times. David became disciplined. He became wise. He became generous. He became strong. There were things forged inside of David in those caves, in the midst of exile. While King Saul was seeking to kill David, God was making a king out of David.

Perhaps the very things we are in such a hurry to fast-forward through are the very things that make us… make us more Christ-like. Make us stronger. Make us purpose-minded. Make us wiser.

So the next time we feel the need to try to push the fast-forward button by pleading with God in prayer, or fantasizing about quitting or escaping our responsibilities, or throwing a pity party… why not first ask ourselves:

What is God up to in this moment of my life? What is He developing in my character as part of the divine purpose He has for me? How is He preparing me for what He has already prepared for me? ☺

Made To Rest...Again

Several years ago, the Lord began teaching me about a principal that I've had the chance to share with others. You may remember it if you happened to be in the audience on one of those occasions. It was a message on the topic of the Sabbath - on creating space and margin in your life to experience rest.

At the time I first began to think about this concept seriously there had been a record breaking snow/ice storm in Dallas that shut the city down for about a week. Families were holed up inside of their homes while schools and offices closed down. A newspaper article recorded people's feelings about this "mandatory" vacation.

“Snow. Ice. Single-digit temps. Could plague of locusts be far behind?
“No school again tomorrow! I think I’m going to go nuts being stuck in this house!!!”
"This has ruined what was going to be a fantastic week. And it’s made me now use two of my floating holidays.” 
“Well, isn’t this neat . . . all the electricity on my block just went out! Great. So now you can add ‘trapped at home with no electricity’ to the list! Fantastic.”

And my favorite, in light of the Super Bowl event Dallas hosted that year:

“Dear God, I’m not sure what we’ve done wrong here in Dallas. Maybe we shouldn’t have hosted the Super Bowl at Jerry’s World . . . not sure. But would you please forgive everyone and bring back our friend, the sun? We promise never to host the northerners again.” 

Clearly, everyone wasn't pleased with the prospect of breaking the rhythm of their normally hectic, fast-paced life.

Well, this week it has happened again. Since last Friday, Dallas has been frozen over. As I write to you, I am in my pajamas looking out the window at my children sliding down the hill in our iced-over backyard on an old cookie sheet that I will never (EVER) bake anything on again.

This week has been fun. We've had hot chocolate, homemade pumpkin bread and cinammon rolls, played Uno, caught up on some school projects, watched some recorded shows that were lined up on our DVR, cuddled, lunched with our neighbors who walked over for a visit and spent some quality time with our extended family.

It has been a nice break. I like it!

I've been searching online to see if I can find another article like the one from a couple years ago. I'm anxious to see if the locals are having the same reactions they did before. Can't find anything yet but I'm very curious to see how you feel when you are in a situation like this. When you are made to stop the regular rhythms of your life and just be still, do you feel anxious, concerned, grateful, behind on projects or something else entirely?

I'll sit here in my pjs and wait for you to respond :)

Priscilla

Guest Blogger: Kerri Weems | Leadership

Kerri Weems.

A woman, leader, women's minister, writer and all around incredible lady that you NEED to know. Whether she is speaking to a crowded auditorium, writing another post for her much loved blog or penning a devotional for the women she serves in her church, this woman is a force to be reckoned with.

I have learned so much from her hand and her heart. She is one of those ladies whose life drips with wisdom.

When she speaks, I listen.

Because listening to her is worth it.

Today, she writes for us on a theme that is not often talked about but that is critical for all of us who want the favor of God on our lives. I've seen her live it and now I'm glad she is sharing it.

Read. Enjoy. And be blessed.

Priscilla

 

When is the last time you heard a leadership message about how to be a great follower? It isn't often that the virtues of following well are extolled, but the truth is without followers there would be no leaders. I'm willing to bet that most great leaders started out as great followers, and I'm convinced that the ability to lead well is intricately intertwined with the ability to follow well. God pointed this out to me in a memorable way when I was a student – leader in the college ministry at our home church in Baton Rouge, LA.

Our college ministry pastor had recently made a seemingly random decision that all the girls on worship team should only wear skirts and nice shoes on stage at our weekly Tuesday night meetings. I lived forty-five minutes from our gathering place and my school day on Tuesdays lasted from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. I had to report to worship rehearsal at 5:30, so by the time I could drive home, I would only be there for fifteen minutes before having to turn around and drive another forty-five minutes back to the meeting venue to lead worship for four and a half hours.

What does all this mean? Let me tell you ladies in one, very telling statement:

SKIRTS AND DRESS SHOES FROM 7AM – 10:30PM WITH AN AVERAGE WALKING DISTANCE OF THREE MILES AROUND THE CAMPUS ON SCHOOL DAYS.
{OUCH. MY FEET CAN STILL FEEL IT.}

As I drove, I crossed that line where pouring out your heart in prayer becomes telling off no one in particular. How can he ask this? It's totally unreasonable. He only lives five minutes away – if he had to walk around in heels all day I bet this would suddenly seem like a bad idea! Of course since he is a man he would never even be in a position to do this…that's what this is…SEXISM!

Just then the Holy Spirit gently rebuked me. His voice was so clear -- so dramatically in opposition to my train of thought – I knew He was stopping me dead in my toxic tracks. He said:

“The degree to which you can submit to authority is the degree to which you can carry authority.”

Notice the Holy Spirit didn't say whether I was wrong or right. That wasn't the issue. The real issue was my heart. I had a choice to make – continue to indulge my frustration and resentment or submit to this seemingly random order and see that kind of character God could build in me through it. From that point on my attitude changed drastically. I made it my goal to be the very best follower I could possibly be! I truly believe that the leader I am today is tied the kind of follower I was in my yesterdays, even when the goals sometimes seemed unrealistic to me.

In her book, Dianne outlines some characteristics of a good follower. I have listed just a few of them below and in parentheses noted how those characteristics are tied to being a good leader. Read the list – maybe you can add some corollaries of your own.

10 Characteristics of a Good Follower (It's Time, page 45)

• Ability to listen (Obvious… who could deny that being a good listener is key to being a good leader?)

• Ability to submit. (If we have trouble submitting to leaders we can see and who we know will inspect our work, how can we submit to a God we can't see? What will be the quality of our work when it is almost never inspected?)

• Ability to trust. (If you have ever trusted and been let down, you know how vulnerable this makes you as a follower. ALWAYS remember how important your trustworthiness is to those you lead.)

• Ability to get in line. (As a follower you know the importance of the unseen roles – you fulfilled those roles yourself! As a leader, you realize that sometimes the greatest strength of your team lies in the quietest and least visible places.)

xo Kerri

* This post is based on the book It's Time by Dianne Wilson.

The Christmas Give Away!

The countdown is on! Only 21 days until one of the most anticipated holidays of the whole year.

One of the things I most look forward to – other than the food, and the family and the fellowship. . . . and the food (did I already mention that?) - is the opportunity to give gifts. I love giving gifts. It’s my love language. I like options that are personalized to suit the interests and personalities of my friends and family members.

The Going Beyond Ministry team and I kept this in mind while dreaming up this year’s Christmas packages.

Each one centers on a different theme that we hope will be personally suited to the people on your list this holiday season. Hopefully, they’ll be a blessing to you or your gift recipients. If you are buying for a friend, we’ll autograph and personalize their resources and send directly to your recipient. It’ll be beautifully packaged by our resident champion gift-wrapper, "Nicole" and will be finished off with a quaint gift tag letting them know that the gift is from you.

In the meanwhile, I thought it would be fun to give you an opportunity to win a package for yourself. So, we are giving away four of them today!

Playing along is easy! You’ll automatically be entered to win when you do the following:

Leave a comment below telling me what you are most looking forward to on Christmas day.
 
Copy and paste a link to this giveaway to your twitter, instagram or facebook.

You have until Tuesday, December 10th to enter. We’ll contact the winners on the 11th and get your gift shipped out to you just in time for Christmas.

Happy Holidays sister! So glad I get to share mine with you ☺.

Priscilla

PS. . .if you want more information on all of our gift packages click here.

This Christmas Kitchen

There are few women that have mastered Christmas cooking and entertaining like Tammy Maltby.

This woman has been a friend of mine for over two decades now. From my teenage and young adult years, I have fond memories of being at her home and staring in amazement at the unbelievably stunning décor that graced her living spaces. Then I’d listen in wide-eyed wonder as she’d take time to tell me the practical, hands-on, no-fuss and frugal way she’d pulled it all together.

Then my taste-buds would be tantalized by some unbelievable culinary creation that she served on a table that was almost too beautifully set to actually mess up. Afterward, she’d answer all my questions about how she’d gotten it done and then lead me to her recipe box so that I could photo copy everything that I wanted.
Shoot, I’ve kept those recipes for years (along with some photos of all the cute corners of her home that I snapped – unbeknownst to her).

I’ve always been stunned by her home; her life really – it is godly, life-giving, fun and immaculate all at the same time. And some how, she has always made it all seem do-able for regular girls like me who aren’t known for their “Martha-Stewartness”.
So, even before I had a home to make for a family or to entertain others in; this woman inspired me to make memories in the kitchen and every other room in the house.

This was the woman that told me that pie-crusts didn’t have to be made from scratch for the pie to taste homemade and that decorating your house creatively with the things that can be found in your backyard is cost effective and often far more beautiful than store bought options. When I registered for wedding china, she was the one that told me silver plated flatware was just as gorgeous as the real deal and required far less maintenance. (I should have listened.) And, she was the woman who told me not to save my china for special occasions because family and my most familiar friends ARE SPECIAL.

Yes I’ve learned a lot from this lady so right here at the start of the Christmas holiday season, I wanted to share her with you.

So many of her amazing recipes and simple ideas for making the holidays memorable are tucked in this book. You’ve got to get your hands on a copy. It will help you make this Christmas your most beautiful one yet. In reality – and I can just hear Tammy’s voice in my head when I say this – we have no business waiting until Christmas to do some of these special things anyway. The stuff you’ll find in this little treasure chest of wisdom can be used all year long – and should be!

In fact, Tammy is available to you and me on more occasions than just the holidays. You can find her and all of her deliciousness right here.  Your life will be so much richer when you connect with her!

Here’s to a beautiful holiday!

Enjoy☺
Priscilla

Christmas Sale!

 

Happy Thanksgiving Friends!

What I'm Grateful For

The church is the living breathing mechanism through which God works in us, to spur us on to victorious Christian living, and through us to edify and encourage each other. The profound beauty of the body of Christ in its breadth is staggering when you think about it. It's so much bigger than your local church or mine. It is THE CHURCH - the global gathering of all who have placed faith in Christ. Those whom the Lord has given us as pastors - shepherds to disciple us, encourage us, comfort us and, yes, correct us, have a big job on their hands. No church is perfect - with all of us and our junk crowding the pews every week. These courageous folks, who have answered the call of God to walk beside us, as our souls are conformed into the image of Christ, have an enormous task and we should never take them lightly.

I was reminded of the importance of covering our church leaders in prayer when I watched proudly from the front row of a crowded auditorium as a seminary colleague of mine, Ikki Soma, was installed as the pastor of City Of Refuge Church in Houston, Texas. Ikki, originally from Japan, has been like a "big brother" for fifteen years now. Tears formed in my eyes as the men of his denomination surrounded his kneeling body, laid hands on him and spoke to the Lord on his behalf.

I was very profoundly impacted when the elder hosting the proceedings asked the congregation to stand to their feet. He then asked if they would commit to pray for Ikki and his family, submit to his authority and encourage him as he serves them as pastor.

The entire group responded in unison with an enthusiastic, “Yes”!
It was beautiful - a congregation making a commitment to pray for their leader.

Going into Thanksgiving this year, I’m especially mindful of and grateful for my own pastor and for the many others who serve the global body across the earth. Leading the church is a broad burden for which they have willingly volunteered their own shoulders. May we never take for granted the load that they carry on our behalf.

Bless them Jesus.
I'm praying for my pastor, Dr. Tony Evans and expressing gratefulness to God for his integrity, teaching gift and tender heart for people.

Who is your pastor and what are you most thankful for about him?

Priscilla

OUR Christmas List

This is it...the week that the mayhem swirling around Christmas and holiday festivities officially begins.  The turkey will barely have settled in our tummies before some of us will venture out into the frigid, winter cold at zero-dark thirty on Friday morning to catch the first hint of a sale.

I'll admit that I'm not much of a Black-Friday kind of girl.  I'd rather stay in bed and fully sleep off the gluttonous coma that I fully intend to put myself into the day before.  My sister Chrystal, on the other hand, rises early and hits every neighborhood store she can.  She's back home and in bed before I've even brushed my teeth and said "Good Morning" to anyone in my family.

So, while I won't be out shopping for Christmas gifts this week, I have started to think of what I might get my three boys this year.  Jerry and I like to buy them a couple gifts apiece and then my parents, whom my boys affectionately call Poppy and Nonny, get them a few more to open at their house.  Thing is, my mom has too many grandkids to brave the stores on each of their behalf.  So, she emails me and my siblings with instructions to buy a couple things for each kid and give her the receipts.

Bottom line: I've got to figure out several gift options for three little boys ages eleven, nine and five.  And this year, like every single Christmas since they were old enough to want something more than a stuffed animal and a rattle, I'm clueless as to what I should get them.

I figure that there have to be a few of you who feel the same way that I do.

Anyone?

So, how about you leave some suggestions based on gifts your son or daughter has enjoyed in the past or something that you intend on getting them this year.  If we get a good list going, we could save each other a whole lot of time this holiday season.  Leave as much detail as you can about the product (like brand/company name) so that we can easily find it online.  Better yet, post the link!

I'll start.

Someone bought this for my boys over five years ago and each of them have played with it when they were between the ages of 2 and 7.

As you can tell by the well-worn box, it has gotten alot of usage in this house.  Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Play-Tents-Tunnels-Junction/dp/B00005KGOJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385327394&sr=8-1&keywords=Tunnels+of+Fun+junction+set

It's a little bit pricey but it has provided years of fun.  All three of my boys have loved it and my youngest, Jude, still pops it open in his bedroom for he and his buddies to crawl in and out of.

My two oldest sons are really into Legos right now.  Here's their most recent interest:

Apparently, all the sets that come in the "Legends of Chima" collection are something worth unwrapping at Christmas time.  Here's that link: http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Chima-Eagle-Interceptor-70003/dp/B00A8HOX4E/ref=sr_1_1?srs=2595364011&ie=UTF8&qid=1385328027&sr=8-1&keywords=chima+lego+70003

I'm so sorry that I can't help much with girl options (although I do think that the tunnels would be great for little girls and boys alike).  I haven't been down the barbie-doll or hair bow aisles in decades.  But, I know there are a bunch of other ladies with daughters who can.

So, sisters, please chime in.  We need suggestions for boys and girls, toddlers and teenagers!

Let's make OUR Christmas list together!

Happy Holidays!
Priscilla