It’s been too long and it’s b-a-c-k…the next “Shack Attack”!
The next round of The Shack book discussion will be held on Wednesday, 8 April 2009, from 730pm – 900pm at the South Riding Panera long table!
Hope you’ll be there and please feel free to invite a friend! 
What happens when you say, “No” to God?
Well, judging from good old boy Jonah, he wound up, in the belly of a stinky fish! Then I think about some difficult situations, when I obeyed God and know what I got? Another stinky situation! Grief, persecution and heartache.
So, what’s the sense in obeying, right?
It’s the peace that follows after obedience (and sometimes it’s a l-o-n-g time after the act of obedience!) But, the harvest does come AFTER the obedience!
Want to know, “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God“? Well, have I got an AWESOME women’s event opportunity for you! It’s not at our church, but we’re all “the church”, right?!?
Nationally renown author and speaker, Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries, takes us on a journey of “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.”
Nancy, my friend of six years and accountability partner of four of those (pray for that gal, would ya!) read the book and attended the conference, in her words,
“Lysa is an amazing woman of God. She is authentic and real in her desire to share with other women how God transformed her life. Her testimony gives evidence to how the power
and love of God heals deep wounds and brings restoration. She serves God today in a humble and grateful spirit to encourage other women through her life experiences to not give up but trust the One who is in control of all things.”
And oh, yeah, Nance says to bring some tissues too, you just might need em’!
April 24-25, 2009
Shepherd Gate Church
Chantilly, VA
Times and Details
Shepherd Gate Church
April 24th -
doors open 6pm - program 7-9pm
April 25th – doors open 8am – program 9am-3pm
(lunch break 12-1pm)
Attendees
Open to all women from 16 years of age and up
Registration Fee
Early registration fee is $75 – if completed by April 1
Standard registration fee is $85 after April 1
Space is limited, so please register early
Lunch – Two Choices
Prepurchase a box lunch for $10
(sandwich, fruit. chips, cookie, bottled water)
or
Bring a sack lunch
With the one hour break, you won’t want to miss the fellowship or any part of this program.
Amenities
Coffee will be served Saturday morning.
Bottled water and soft drinks will be available throughout the
conference for a nominal charge
I won’t be attending as I have a family obligation that weekend, but if you do go, please let me know how it was! I’ve heard Lysa speak and know you WILL be blessed!
Two weekends ago, I went on my wild-woman-hit-my-weight-goal shopping spree! Wanted to tell ya how it went…
I headed to the Leesburg Outlets well equipped: a bottle of water, comfortable shoes, a list of stuff I wanted to buy (of course, a list!) and a rockin’ 30% off coupon for Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic Outlets which was dated for the exact same weekend for my spree. I took that as evidence that God blesses those who tithe! (THANKS for that coupon Jess!)
During my delightful afternoon, I realized I had a serious condition, not medical, but certainly spiritual – the diagnosis: manna moans.
Manna moans? Yes ma’am…the manna moans.
The moans began when I tried on bathing suits. They sounded like this, “Where does this cellulite come from?” Why did I think I’d be cellulite free at my goal weight?
Needless to say, I didn’t buy a new bathing suit that Saturday afternoon. And whatever, it wasn’t on my list…but “skinny jeans were”! Onwards…
Well, I didn’t hear a drop of the moans when I bought a beautiful canary colored $10 scarf.
or the $4 violet earrings/necklace set.
But they surfaced again when chunks of the junk in my trunk weren’t appearing flat during undergarment shopping! Despite, I bought six new pairs of “knickers” as the English would say! (And NO, you can’t see them!)
That weekend, God revealed that my “manna moans” is a serious condition that again, needed to be dealt with. You see, I’ve been infected with the “manna moans” before. I know they are back because the primary symptom is found in a chronic three word statement, “not good enough”.
Old struggles:
When I spent more than we made, I told God “not good enough”.
When I ate more than my frame desired to hold, I told God, “not good enough”.
When I debated that God made a mistake with gifting Dave to me as my hubby, I told God, “not good enough”. (Just being honest here and Dave would tell you the same!)
Current struggle:
The quantity of cellulite on my thighs. “Not good enough.”
Basically, by the way I thought and acted, I told God my thighs weren’t good enough. He advised, “He made em’, I’m working em’ out…be happy already!”
Know what “not good enough” says to God – that I’m not grateful.
He told me to turn it around. I thought I was progressing, until I started to moan about my thighs. I dug into the word, to inquire the “how” of this.
God showed me the Israelites were confused with their portion (Exodus 16:15) with their statement, “What is it?” They didn’t know what manna was – and they were confused. (Exodus 16:31b AMP) I knew what cellulite was but I was still confused why it needed to be on my thighs!
Lovingly, God showed me how to show gratitude through our finances, my food addiction and my awesome spouse! But again, I have been confused with my portion…just cause it’s my thighs, doesn’t mean it’s less important. I am God’s creation and He desires me to be at peace with me.
God said to Moses “I have heard the murmurings” (Exodus 16:12). The murmurings equal MOANING and COMPLAINING. After ALL He’s done for me. Lord, help me turn it around.
They were moaners and kept saying, “my portion is not good enough God.”
Uh oh, I’m one of them. ACK! Lord, please tell me how to clear up the manna moans, I have a reinfection! He prescribed a positive attitude. Turn it around take an attitude of gratitude!
“Positive thoughts are always full of faith and hope. Negative thoughts are always full of fear and doubt.” Joyce Meyer
Now I’m stretching this faith walk stuff, right? Nope.
Be happy about my thighs? Yup.
Here goes: Lord thank you that where my thighs used to touch completely, I have one spot where the light can flow through! I can see the light and I’m not just talking about that section of my thighs!
“I like my thighs more each day.” Well, at least that’s what I said yesterday, I’m saying today and will keep saying until I’m feel it’s true! I believe the feeling will follow the positive confession.
I’ll let you know when I’m really ”feelin’ it!”
And yes, I found my perfect “skinny jeans”!
They do not fit like a glove, like I thought I wanted. They have room to breathe. I no longer think skinny jeans need to be suctioned cupped to my butt and “perfectly portioned thighs” (ugh…this is killing me!)! But they are a size smaller than what I wore in college-so WOO-HOO and YIPPEE-KIE-YEAH!
For as (s)he thinks in his heart, so is (s)he. Proverbs 23:7
Do you have the “manna moans” in an area of your life too? Confess it and then turn it around into a positive statement of faith! (Listen, if I can find one positive statement to make about my thighs, surely you can find the positive too!) And, if you’re REALLY gutsy, post it so we can gain strength from one another!
*One final nugget to chew on: “We can’t always control the first thought that barges through our mind, but we can control the second and the third and the fourth. We must take an honest look at our thoughts. Do they line up with the truth? Our thoughts control our actions, so we must exercise authority we have been given and take our thoughts captive. We cannot dwell on what will not produce life. So many things that lead to our destruction begin with a thought.” (1)
*My friend Kathy dropped this book off for me to read. WOW has it been a blessing and encouragement! If you want God centered encouragement in the midst of “the battle” (aka: life) – this one is a must read!
Holly
Wagner, Warrior Chicks, (Ventura, CA:
Regal Books, 2007), p. 124.
