Hey LIFT ladies,
Hope all is well.  I woke up this morning knowing that I am blessed.  I am alive and breathing the air that God has supplied.  I know that some days are difficult.  But knowing that I serve a mighty God, gets me through the day. 

I challenge you today to keep your head up and love one another with mutual respect.  We sometimes forget that we need to respect all those around us.  Let us not loss focus on what is important and what matters most.  God is good and he loves you unconditionally.  At our last meeting I handed out " A Good Recipe ".  So my challenge for you today is to follow #1 on the list.  Have a great day and God bless.

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk today. And while you walk, smile !!!!

                    It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.
Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man, ... not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Our rejoicing is this, ... that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Acts 20:19. Matt. 20:26-28. Gal. 6:3. Rom. 12:3. Luke 17:10. 2 Cor. 1:12. 2 Cor. 4:7.

New Every Morning – by Sheila Walsh

One of the things that’s important to me as I study the Bible is to read verses in context of what was actually happening when they were written. It’s tempting to simply pull out a verse like a rabbit from a magician’s hat and apply it to our situation, but if we read in context I believe the message will run deeper.

In Isaiah 43:18-19 we read, “Remember not the former things, nor consider on the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (ESV)

These words were written to God’s people held captive in Babylon. It was one of the lowest moments in their history. Isaiah prophesies about the coming captivity and exile and yet reminds the people that God is a God of love and he will bring them home. It is one more picture in the Old Testament foreshadowing the coming Christ who will deliver us from our sin and brokenness. In these two verses God is saying, Don’t look back to the time when I delivered your ancestors from Egypt, I am a God who delivers over and over again.

You may find yourself in a place of brokenness at the moment, and even though God has delivered you before, you can’t imagine how he will do it again as your situation is very different. Take your eyes off the past and fix them on Christ whose mercies are new every morning.

Just Imagine!
by Patsy Clairmont

Getting up in the wee hours to experience the first rays of light conquering darkness heartens me. I watch the ebony melt from the sky and drizzle behind the distant stand of trees, and my senses awaken. Those first morning moments when the sun seems to ignite a horizon of hope—a new dawn, a new day, a new beginning—who doesn’t need that?

“And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4).

Yesterday can’t be altered, tomorrow can’t be predicted, and today can’t be controlled any more than I can adjust the sun’s path. While that could make us feel helpless, I find a deep comfort in the knowledge that the one who placed the sun on its course has lit a distinct path for us. The path is filled with purpose and with the potential for interior prosperity: “You will show me the path of life” (Psalm 16:11).

While on earth, we will encounter both darkness and light, but that will not always be so. A day will come when Christ in all his glory and light will fill every shaded nook and every shadowed cranny, and darkness will be no more. Nothing will be as we now know it, and earth and God’s people will experience full redemption. Imagine that.

Just imagine!

On July 19, 1993 my life changed forever. My son Bradley (age 10), my husband Gary, and I were canoeing with Bradley’s baseball team. Bradley was grabbed by an alligator and disappeared. My husband and I had to fight with the alligator to get Bradley then canoe him to an area where we could get help. Bradley went to be with Jesus that day.

My husband, my son Brent (not at the attack), and I were devastated. Immediately following Bradley’s death, the love we had from family and friends was immense. We felt the Lord’s arms around us, carrying us through it all. Many, many people were touched by our loss and our faith during this time.

But once everyone got back to their own lives and schedules, life was not easy. How could we go on, don’t people understand I lost my son? Life never got back to normal. Not only was I dealing with the loss of a child, but also the terror of the event. I had prayed that morning that the Lord would look over us and take care of us. What happened? Where was God? Why did He allow this to happen?

For several years I went through the “motions” of being a good Christian, a good mom and husband, but I was dying inside. There were times when my husband or Brent was late that I knew they were dead. There was so much fear.

A few years ago, my friend’s mom had two extra Women of Faith tickets. I took them and invited a friend to go with me. Those two days at Women of Faith started the journey of changing me. I am learning trust the Lord to heal my hurts . . . to REALLY trust Him. I don’t understand everything, but I have the peace that no matter what happens to me at any time, HE IS THERE for me.

The Lord has used me in so many ways. He gave me the love to start a women’s group and this year I have 22 women at Women of Faith. I want all the women I know to experience Women of Faith and the healing that can take place. I can now be there for women who have experienced losses, to understand their hurts and give them guidance on what to expect and how to lean on the Lord no matter what. I know that I can be happy again! I found that sharing my story helps to heal and also touches & helps others.

Should there be anyone out there hurting or experiencing a loss, know that the Lord understands. He does care about your hurts, he hurts for you. He is able to help you when you totally give it to him to use you, and to heal you. You CAN have new joy.

―Donna W.