“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”” Matthew 28: 23-24  

Stress has a way of finding us when we least expect it.

Smooth sailing on the open sea of life lands you in the middle of a storm, as the ‘weather’ changes in a matter of minutes. When you are floating along, it’s good to remember, as the storm approaches, (while you still have time) to get the life boat ready, tighten up your life vest, put your important items in your floating containers, and get fit for the task at hand because, you can count on it: the boat is about to rock, and you’re about to get soaked. After the turbulence settles and blue skies appear, you will be glad you were prepared.

Chronic illness is one storm that many encounter along the sea of life. It hits hard, and sometimes it comes with no warning. Those who embrace the storm prepared, may not ever see it subside totally, but they can ride the storm well in God’s life boat. Securely fastened in the life vest of His love, Jesus Christ, they will not drown, but they will certainly get wet. Waves will crash around them, but as they take refuge in His love, they will feel His comfort and will not be swept under the currents of anxiety and fear.

Isaiah 41:10 says: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In the storms that relationships can sometimes bring, your ocean may be full of the salty tears that you’ve cried over those you love. With Christ wrapped around our body tight, we can envision the rainbow after the storm and it helps us to know that “this too shall pass”.

It is in these storms that we see the importance of change within ourselves vs. trying to change other people. With help, we can learn how to live in these storms without being destroyed by them. All the thunder and lightning that happens when a relationship is broken is scary and makes us feel vulnerable, but with our seat in the lifeboat, Jesus will show us how to swim if we get knocked off our feet and into the water. His Word promises that “He will never leave us or forsake us.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Another storm of change is the aging process.

If we fail to accept this, and begin to go with the boat into dark waters, we will be harmed as we fall overboard. Plastic surgery, a younger spouse, a new home or a new job won’t stop the aging process. Even if we iron out all the wrinkles with plenty of Botox, our days are still numbered and death will eventually knock on our door.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live with joy in my heart, and a smile on my face. I don’t want to be remembered for leaving a trail of heartache behind me from the pain I brought on my family because I couldn’t accept that I was getting older. The time you have left should be full of the eternal things of Christ that give deep fulfillment, not temporary pleasure. 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 

As the storms of change rage on in your life, make it count for Christ. Bring some others with you into the lifeboat. Give them the Life Vest and together, embrace the Father.

{This post is a contribution from Stephanie Wilkins for Recharge Wednesday}

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Have you ever gone to work only to find out that people have been laid off, or your company is being “reorganized”? Maybe you’ve experienced an unexpected death in the family, or a diagnosis of cancer after a routine visit to the Dr.

This type of stress takes us by surprise and sometimes leaves us feeling out of control.  Our bodies and minds tell us to instantly respond to the stress.  Our emotions run high, and our reactions usually differ from a normal stress response.  This is because we were “surprised” and not prepared for the stress coming our way.  It’s just like a fly ball hit into the stands when you weren’t looking out for it; Your head is turned and then ……bam!!

In 1 Kings 19, we find the story of Elijah and Queen Jezebel.  Elijah is surprised when Queen Jezebel threatens to kill him after he defeated the prophets of Baal.  This terrible surprise news scared him.  Instead of going to the Lord, who initially helped him defeat the prophets, Elijah’s stress response was to run and hide in a different city.   When he got there, he was so afraid that he actually prayed death to himself to avoid being murdered by this wicked Queen.

His reaction is not contrary to what many of us have done when we’ve felt our world falling down on us.  In a surprise situation of great magnitude, it’s easy to give in to fear, anger, despair, and sadness and look only at the situation instead of immediately looking to God who is above all situations.

In verse  5, we see that God sent an angel to Elijah.  The angel provided food, drink and much needed sleep.  In other words, God comforted Elijah in his time of need.  He settled his mind and gave him nourishment so that He could receive instruction.  This is what God will do for all of us during our times of “surprise stress”.  He understands us because he created us.  He knows our fears before we even have to face them and will provide rest, nourishment, and comfort in our time of need.

As our story continues, Elijah finds himself on a long journey where he ends up on the “mountain of God”.   While there, God sent a great wind, earthquake, and a fire for Elijah to experience and then it says that God spoke to him in a still small voice.  We also experience circumstantial winds, earthquakes and fire that is brought down upon us by almighty God to get us ready to hear His still, small voice that wants to speak to our heart.

I’m sure that after the wind and earthquake, Elijah saw how insignificant a threat of death really was in the face of Jehovah God who could open up the earth and swallow him in a minute!  And then… when he felt the heat of fire on his face, He knew who really held the power of heaven and hell in His hands.  It surely wasn’t Jezebel.  He realized that he had no need to fear her.  His only healthy fear now was the fear of the Lord Jesus Christ and Elijah’s trust for protection was now completely in the one who created the wind, earth, and fire!

It’s interesting that after those elements of nature, he was istructed to go back the way he came.  Ouch!!!  Now he had to  put his faith into action and face his fear which exposed him to danger again.

1 Kings 19:15  says, “Then the Lord told him, “Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram.¹⁶ Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi^[b] to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.¹⁷ Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha! ¹⁸ Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” 

When Elijah obeyed,  the victory soon thereafter went to the Lord.  Jezebel was eventually destroyed.  Elijah went on to live, see much success, mentored his successor,  and was rewarded ultimately by the greatest surprise of his life…..not having to face death.  Instead, he was taken to heaven by God riding “first class” in a chariot of fire!

WOW!!!! God is truly amazing and that, my friends, should be no surprise to us at all!!

Stephanie is leading a workshop on stress at our upcoming conference SHE SOARS 2017. Find more info about it on our conference page: SHE SOARS 2017

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One morning in January, as I sat in my prayer closet, searching God’s heart for the theme of our ministry’s conference this year, I heard one single word:

CHOSEN

As if often happens when the Holy Spirit speaks, I knew exactly what He meant, and where to find it.

1 Peter 2:9-10

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. (NASB)

And thus, the theme and verse for She Soars 2017 were established.

Since that day in January, God has confirmed His message for this conference and established the details in amazing ways:

The church that is partnering with us…the speakers… the testimonies… the ministries that have agreed to become part of the conference (CUFI and She Is Safe.)

God has been orchestrating this conference as a beautiful symphony, and I can’t wait to see what He will do on October 14^th.

But can I let you in on a secret about ministry?

When God calls you to do something that has the potential to set some of His people free…. When the task before you is bigger than what you can handle… When you need to stay focused and prepare your heart and life to minister to others…

The roaring lion that prowls around seeking to devour goes for his kill. (1 Peter 5:8)

That’s how, since God gave me this message, and lined up the details for this conference… There have been many a day when I have felt less like Royalty… and more like a Royal Mess. And I bet that the other speakers can relate to the fight.

But you know what that does to my heart?

It.Sets.Me.On.HOLY.FIRE !!!!

These past months have been challenging in many ways… but I know where the challenges are coming from:

They come from the enemy of our souls, who wants to destroy those whose territory bring glory to Jesus,

And they come from our God, who allows trouble to weaken our flesh, so we can relate to the pain and weakness that assail those we will minister to… and so He can be the only source of our strength, and the only One who can receive the glory for what will happen.

So, here’s the truth about being CHOSEN as His Royal Priesthood:

All Jesus’ girls go through valleys when they FEEL more like a royal mess than Royal Priesthood.

Every Jesus’ girl has moments when she feels unworthy to be called a Holy Nation.

But The Cross.

The Cross of Calvary is the seal. The seal that ensures me that it does not matter how I feel – I KNOW who I am in Christ.

For, as verse 10 on 1 Peter 2 says (in my own words): Yes, once I could not be considered His heiress, but the cross brought me into the fold… Once I did not receive His Mercy, but the cross made me a recipient of His endless mercy and grace. Halleluiah!

It’s only because of the Cross that I can shout to the world and rise up, fighting like David when he slayed the lion:

I am a CHOSEN Daughter of the Owner of the Universe.

I am His Possession.

And everything He possesses… all His promises… are Mine!

Oh – no question about it. There are days I don’t FEEL like so.

But I KNOW SO.

Hey! Jesus’ Girl… if you feel like a royal mess more than His Royal Priesthood, come join us on October 14^th, and learn how you can rise up to embrace, grasp, claim, and live on the truth that you are CHOSEN!

Chosen to receive His supernatural peace.

Chosen to have your deepest wounds healed.

Chosen to proclaim the “excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness… and into His marvelous LIGHT.”

Click below to visit the Conference Page, where you will find information about speakers, workshops, worship, scholarships, vendor and advertising opportunities. NEW for 2017: One Workshop in Spanish.

Registrations are now open:

SHE SOARS 2017 INFO

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About three years ago, God put in my heart the desire to put together a conference.

A day in which a group of Jesus’ girls could get together and share their stories.
A day of digging a little deeper… loving a little wider.

A toolbox-kind of day.

Here’s the idea behind the SHE SOARS CONFERENCE:

We go to church, listen to our pastors and Sunday School teachers. We listen to our favorite preachers on the radio, read our Bibles and our favorite blogs throughout the week.

But when life happens….

And you lose your job…

Or your marriage is falling apart…

When you are told you have cancer… or someone you love is affected by this dreadful disease…

When you exhaust your finances and the job is still to come…

Or your children, who were raised to love Jesus, turn away from the church… from Him…and even from you…

When your loved one dies… after a long battle… or all of a sudden.

When these and other circumstances happen to the believer, we are often left with an empty place in our hearts, anxiety, depression… and the question that lingers:

How do I keep on soaring with Jesus through it all?

God has put together an amazing group of teachers for the first SHE SOARS CONFERENCE.

They have walked through the valleys of cancer, loneliness, financial crisis, unemployment, infertility and chronicle illnesses.

They have suffered. They have known anxiety… and fear… and doubt.

Some of them are still walking through those valleys.

But GOD.

They realized He never meant any of these trials for their harm… Rather, they understand that He designed each one of the trials to shape them into the women He designed them to be.

In the process, He filled their toolboxes with just the right trinkets and spiritual tools to keep them encouraged… and encouraging others through it all!

And so they learned to laugh and be joyful. In. Spite. Of.

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These women don’t fly. Because flying is what birds do on their own strength. They SOAR.
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Because they have learned to press on to the place where JESUS becomes the wind beneath their wings.

And they choose to trust wherever He leads them.

Day.by.day… Step.by.step…

In the light… and in the darkness of their circumstances.

And they want to share their stories with you.

Meet Alison Everill, Lisa Ryan, Stephanie Wilkins,  Sandra Onal and Yvonne Conte.

Beautiful Eagles for Christ.

I call them friends.

And warriors.

And I invite you to meet them as well.

Join us at our upcoming conference on April 30^th at Kennesaw First Baptist Church.

We plan to spend the day encouraging you… and giving you practical tools to help you Soar above Life’s circumstances with Jesus.

I can’t wait to see you!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED INFORMATION

PS: Don’t delay! Early bird registration ends March 15th!

Click here to Register!

In His matchless love,

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