Priscilla Shirer's Blog, page 82

Discipleship

For the past year or so I have been meeting with my friend Paola who has been such a blessing and encouragement in my life. I originally approached Paola and asked if she would "disciple" me. I knew that she was such a prayer warrior and that was one specific area of my walk with the Lord that I wanted to grow in, so I thought I would ask her to spend some time with me and teach me a few things.

Of course there was a lot of prayer that went into that decision, but after I asked her, I think we both knew it was the right thing at the right time.

This past year has been one of huge growth for me. It is amazing to think back on all the things that we have prayed for/about and all that God has done. I must say that my life is forever changed because of this woman. She has blessed my socks off by her intetionality, prayers, supper and encouragement.

One of the things I appreciate about her the most is that I know that she is praying for me. I mean, my life has changed because this woman prays for me, and she prays intetionally and with purpose. And I believe that because of this, our time together is powerful and my walk with the Lord is stronger. 

Everyone has their own idea of discipleship, what it should look like, etc. I'm curious to know if you all are in some sort of "discipleship" relationship and if so, how has it impacted you? How often do you meet? Are they older/younger?

I'm looking forward to hearing what different types of discipleship relationships we have here on our blog community and how your lives have changed because of it.

Linnae

Shutting Down For the Day

After all the preparation and hard work from our Awaken event Friday night, we are taking the day to rest and celebrate what God did during our time together.

We cannot believe all of the many things that God did on Friday. We hope that it was a blessing to those of you who were able to join us and we hope to be able to do it again in the future.

Have an amazing Monday and we will see you here tomorrow!

The GB Team

More Than What You Bargained For

So yesterday, I swung through the old familiar drive-through at Chick-fil-A. I'll admit it, this is a favorite spot for my children and I. For a quick bite to eat or an afternoon play date, we love this restaurant for it's friendly service and delicious food as much as for its wi-fi access (for me) and sound proof play area (for the kids).
I could go on. . .but I guess this is not an advertisement for Chick-fil-A.
Although it could be. . . 
But I digress.

Once every couple weeks I'll pick something up for my boys for an afternoon snack. They are always delighted when they hop in the car, famished from school, and see those happy little bags waiting for them. They are always looking forward to sinking their teeth into those delicious fried tenders and (at least for a snack) some fruit and milk. 
But yesterday I noticed an advertisement for their new grilled nuggets and was thrilled to see this more healthy option available. I immediately ordered four for each of my sons with the usual fruit and milk - chocolate for one and plain for the other. They grinned widely when they saw the bags in the back seat after hopping in the car but I had my camera ready to catch their expression when they pulled out the unusual offering inside.

I laughed out loud as they looked with longing despair at these nuggets that hadn't been dipped in hot oil and fried to a golden crisp. Not buying them french fries at snack time had already been a blow that they swore they'd never recover from and now this? The boys were completely shaken and utterly beside themselves.  They wondered, betwixt and between, glancing down into their bags how I could betray them in this most ill-gotten way. (Forgive the Victorian verbage. I've been watching far too much Downton Abby).

Needless to say, they were hungry. So despite their initial shock, they began eating and. . .
much to their surprise (and my relief) they LOVED the nuggets! They hadn't expected to be so pleased but every single bite was delicious!
Sometimes, good things come wrapped in unusual packages.

I'm preparing for  Awaken tonight and I'm thrilled to see what good things the Lord has planned for us. Yet, I suppose some of what will end up "tasting" good to us in the long run could possibly not look or sound good when we first encounter it. A Word that the Holy Spirit uses to convict almost always stuns us at the onset. We look it over and frown at the way it seems to assault us and demand that we change. But if we'll dig in and chew a bit we'll very likely find ourselves surprised with how amazing the result of His feast is.
His feasts always are the best, you know. . . even if the package is different than you expected.

So come with me. . .for a banquet in His Word that will leave you wanting more of Him and what He's bringing to the table. 
Without a doubt. . .it'll be more than what you bargained for. It always is.
See you tonight.
Priscilla

All the Single Ladies...Hey-O!

Ok ladies...I live in Dallas.  The number 2 spot in the USA for single, 25-35 year old men.  And can I say, I haven't gone on a SINGLE DATE since I've moved here.  Can I hear a "WHAT?!?"  SO, as I've walked forward in this drought of requests, I go through the usual girl things, "Maybe I'm too loud", "Maybe I'm not in good enough shape!", "Maybe I'm too serious..."  and the list goes on and on.  It's at these moments that I have to do a little self-talk, "Annetta. You are made in His image.  It's ALL about HIS timing.  You're doing your best to beCOME the wife you need to be one day.  Just keep on with that!  He will honor your faith!"

You should see it when my friends and I get together for boy chats...we have learned that if we aren't PRAYING for our husbands then we will quickly start complaining about them.  So, part of my practice (to keep a positive heart) of this is praying for my husband.  This man I don't yet know needs some prayer if he's gonna' be able to handle ME!  So, here goes!

"Father, would you lead and guide my husband to me, IN YOUR TIMING!  Would You give him increasing wisdom and discernment in life?  Would You help him to build a home for our family?  Would You help guard his eyes and heart from impurity?  Would You release him from any strongholds and give him a respect for Your Word?  Would You draw close in intimacy with him today?  Father, would You teach him how to woo me by how YOU woo him?  I love You Father, In Jesus Name, AMEN!"

 

So, single AND married ladies...I think we all need a little prayer for our men, right?  Let's lift 'em up instead of tearing 'em down!

 

xx

 

annetta

Praying for Awaken

There is nothing as overwhelming and exciting for me, and the people that work at Going Beyond Ministries, than the days leading up to one of our ministry events. 
Especially one like this!

Awaken is coming up on Friday night. It is the first time that our ministry has dreamed up an event ourselves and seen it come to fruition. We are beyond excited and filled with anticipation to see what unique and wonderful things the Lord has in store for all who gather.

Yesterday, three of us got down on our knees in a tiny work space and prayed for God's favor and presence to hang heavy at the event on Friday. We also prayed for every woman who was planning to attend. We asked that the Lord would intersect her circumstances in that very moment in such a way that her heart would be more prepared and open to receive His Word for her when she comes to the event.
Needless to say, we are hoping and fully expecting that He will do just that. . .with all of us. 

So, today, I wondered if there are any of you coming to Awaken who need specific prayer? Just leave your request below and let's form a chain of prayer for each other so that when we meet on Friday our hearts will already have been connected with one another. 

Leave your request and then take a moment to pray for the one right above your own.

See you Friday,
Priscilla

My motto for this week!

Hello my friends! I pray you all are having a great week so far.

The below picture is exactly how I'm feeling this week y'all! The devil has been bothering me a little too much lately and I have had ENOUGH!!! So this is what I've been telling him! Ha!

 

 

Just thought I'd make y'all laugh today:)

So now that y'all know how I'm feeling this week, please share how you're doing....Feeling overwhelmed? Excited? Tired? 

Until next time,

Antrenette

P.S. Isn't this little boy the cutest thing ever??? :)

This Week!

It's a big week for the team here at Going Beyond. We have our first ever free event this Friday, which hopefully you are already aquainted with and have at least heard of by now. This is something that Priscilla and Jerry have wanted to do for a long time and we are finally able to do it! We will be praying, planning and prepping all last minute details over the next few days as we anxiously await our time together in Word.

It's going to be glorious, and we so hope to see all of you there! If you are still trying to decide if you can make it or not, I will say that there MAY be a delicious surprise to be had if you join us at The Oaks church on Friday =) So, if you want to know more about it or need more details, just click here.

We will still be around here all week, but please keep us in your prayers - we would greatly appreciate it! 

Can't wait to meet so many of our closest blog friends in just a few days!

Linnae

Voices

This past week was full of craziness here in the GB office...We were keeping up with all our normal activity, preparing for our big Awaken event AND organizing the GB library.  I'm including a picture of the SMALLEST stack of books we waded through as we made sure the ISBN (this crazy number I never knew EXISTED until this past week!) and library codes were logged into our database and the books were placed in the appropriate category on shelves.  

In the middle of this pile, I'd pick up a book, type in the title and in my quirky creative way, I'd think about what each book was written on.  By the end of an hour, I'd have so many titles and thoughts and "wish-I-had-time-to-read-this" books added to the wishlist.  There are books on how to be married, how to prepare for marriage, how to know if the fella is the right one FOR marriage.  There are literally books on any conceivable topic you could ever WANT to think about!  

When I went home last night, I still had all these titles and thoughts rolling in my brain from the day.  Add to these the normal bevy of activity at work, my friends calls and texts, family calling about my sick Grandmother, and my own to-do list for the night, my brain was about as jumbled and varied as the pile of books I'd just spent the day organizing.  

So I scooped up my walking shoes and headed to my favorite spot in Dallas to just sit.  Quiet.  With God.  In the quiet, all the voices faded and I could hear the little Voice that had been murmuring under all those other voices all day.  As that Voice grew louder, my soul grew more serene.  I sat and thought on Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I Am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth." 

When I walk in today, to finish up another pile of books, with emails waiting and phone calls to return, that serenity in my soul will guard me from becoming anxious again.  He is Present and He is God.  I might need another trip to my favorite quiet place this weekend, but this time, it'll be for a little more chatting with Him and a little less quiet...He KNEW I couldn't stay quiet for long! 

This weekend:  Breathe!  Listen to God!  And tell us what you hear!

 

xx

 

annetta

Shifting shadows. . . and other things that move

I'm getting older.
Not old. . . but definitely older.

My birthday from ages 25 to 34 went by with little fanfare. I celebrated with family and friends as usual and somehow didn't feel the emotional weight of the passage of time. Even when my thirtieth came, it was a completely festive time. Unlike some who I've heard bemoan moving into another decade and long for the youth that their twenties represented, I was comfortable - even eager to see what my thirties would bring.

That all changed a couple years ago. On my 35th birthday, I woke up with a stunned sense of nostalgia. While I didn't feel sadden by this new milestone, I was far more thoughtful and somber. All of a sudden, I was closer to 40 than to 30 and my emotions didn't know how to handle it. I felt a bit like a deer caught in headlights - staring into the full blast of my older self -widened hips and all. Since then, I've felt the same on each birthday that I've had and the evidence of my nearness to forty. . is upon me.

 . . . .with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

That's how James 1:17 describes God - unchanging and unmoving. No matter how much time passes, He will always be exactly the same as He always was.
. . . and good thing that someone will be Him because it's becoming clear to me that I won't.

Things are shifting and moving over here. Parts of me that used to look one way are starting to look another. Some of the outfits I've been enjoying for years just don't work on my body anymore. There are a few lines that are creeping out for the corners of my eyes every time I smile and a single crevice on each side of my mouth that is evident even when my face is relaxed. My feet are bigger - flattened out by the weight of three pregnancies and several visible veins that run like blue rivers right underneath the skin on the back of my hand. My stomach seems to be upset far more frequently by certain kinds of delightful foods that my much younger tummy enjoyed on demand and evidence of excess calories is showing up at a record rate. And the workout that has sufficed for the past 10 years, keeping me fairly fit, isn't doing the trick anymore. My thighs are literally laughing out loud at that routine and daring me to try something different.
Yes, things are shifting. It seems like everyday I can see some shifting occurring - variations to the woman that I've been until now. It's like I'm being introduced to a brand new person.

I'm ok with aging but I've been thinking about it alot more in recent months as I've watched time begin to take it's all too familiar toll. Here are some of the questions that I've been pondering:

In a day and age when our culture continues to say that "beauty is everything" how do we grow old gracefully?

What's the line between accepting the appropriate effects of the passage of time while continuing to take part in activities and lifestyle that makes you feel "young"?

What changes to our bodies should we consider "normal" and which ones should we put the extra effort and energy into to try to hold back the hands of time regarding?

At what point, and in what way, should we "let go" and allow something to shift without working to keep it from happening?

How do we balance appropriate health and beauty goals with the realities of age?

There's been an interesting discussion going on in my head, but I think I'd better invite you guys into it before "talking-to-myself" gets added to my list of aging attributes.
So. . . go! It's your turn.
:)

Priscilla

About My Marriage

If you are a married woman, I have a question for you: do you and your man do anything strategic to enhance your marriage? Do you have a regularly planned date night or do you try to take a trip together without the children on occasion? 

Several months ago, Jerry and I were invited to come on the "Love Like You Mean It" cruise (link). It's a ministry of Family Life with Dennis Rainey. Maybe you listen to him on the radio and you are aware of the emphasis that this ministry places on nurturing family relationship. Each year they have a cruise that focuses on marriage. Speakers teach on subjects related to the topic in a setting that is conducive to re-igniting the flame of passion. We were so thrilled to get an invitation from this ministry to spend a week with them aboard a cruise ship filled with other married folk just like us who wanted to take time to nurture their relationship.
Frankly, Jerry and I needed this. We've been looking forward to some "us" time because, try as we might, our best efforts at maintaining date nights and couple's devotions often gets overlooked. We have good intentions but "us" is very frequently shoved to the bottom of the long list of other needs that seem to be more pressing, urgent and necessary at the moment.
The result - we lose a bit of our friendship and closeness, opting rather to just share schedules and duties. This isn't the way either of us want our marriage to be so we refuse to stand by and watch mundane-ness creep up on us.

Too bad, opportunities to take a cruise with a marriage focus don't come once a month. :) But we've gotta get better at focusing on each other even still. Making time has got to be just as important as the children's needs and our own personal needs. . otherwise we'll be "me" and "him" instead of the "us" we were given to each other to be.

Do you ever find this happening in your relationship?

Let's share some creative ideas today. What do you and your husband do to stay connected with each other?

Priscilla