Do Not Fear ~ Short Vlog by Cherie Zack with @ImperfectWives

As the New Year approaches, so does the unknown. We at C4C trust that Cherie's encouragement tdday to not be afraid will help you launch into 2014 with bold confidence in your Creator, Savior, "Sustainer", Provider, and FRIEND. Happy New Year!
 

Cherie L. Zack
District Director of Women's Ministries | South Carolina District Council of the Assemblies of God

"For I have redeemed you: by name; you are mine."  -Isaiah 43:1

Join me here at The Imperfect Wives: www.TheImperfectWives.org

A Love Letter from the Heart of the Father ~ A Guest Post by @DaveGeisler

Photo by Shelley Hendrix

Love Letter from the Father

by 
Dave Geisler


I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.                                                     Ephesians 3 NIV

My dearest little one,

Looking at you makes my heart leap for joy. I remember the first time I got to see you and how when I held you I wept, I wept the greatest tears of joy. I knew at that moment that I would always love you not matter the circumstances, no matter the cost, whether you liked it or not I was absolutely crazy about you. You hadn't done a single thing to earn it or to merit my affection but it was and still is there, alive and always ready to share the things of this world together.

Oh my dear little one did you know that I counted your fingers and toes just for the shear pleasure of it! I doted over you as you slept, for hours on end, speaking gently so not to wake you telling you all my hopes and ambitions for us. Did you know that when I looked at that perfect little face I took my finger and traced every part of it? Did you know that as excited I was for that very moment I couldn't wait to experience the next and the next and the next one alongside you?

And now my little one as you are getting older, I now love you more than I did the moment I first got to hold your tiny little hand. It astonishes me that even when you get grumpy and tired how this same love, yet even stronger, can knit my heart to yours. And now I get to take you on the most wonderful adventures and unveil so much of the mysteries of this world to you and even get to experience it brand new through your beautiful little eyes.

My hope for you is that you would personally know and rest into the breadth and length and height and depth of the love I have for you. That you would come to realize, without a doubt, that I am for you and not against you. That I love you with a love that doesn't end and I am always here for you no matter what has happened. That there is not one thing you could do to turn me away from you. That my love for you is pure even when every other love seems tainted. That if you so desire you can always come and sink into the arms of daddy and know that I will wipe every tear from your eye and restore your loveliness when this world seeks to snatch it away from you.

You are my most prized treasure yet I know that I cannot hold on too tightly. For you my dear one must have wings to fly and to experience all that this time and space has to offer. I hope and pray that you will receive and believe my plans for you, that they are good and not to harm you. And when you find yourself in need you can always come to me for grace and mercy, I’m always available to you. Oh my little one, how I love you, how I dearly love you.

Your Abba Daddy 

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Written by Dave Geisler, Pastor of A Grace Place Church in Bradenton, FL and a mighty carrier of this message of grace, new identity and New Covenant living.

Connect with Dave on Facebook

Is Facebook Testing You? by @ShelleyHendrix

Photo by Shelley Hendrix

^{Is Facebook Testing You?}

^{By Shelley Hendrix}

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you, ¹³ but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory...¹⁹ Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good. 1 Peter 4:12 (GOD's Word Translation)

In this day and age where social network users tend to highlight only the best of the best of edited photos and posts, and where the media outlets tend to highlight only the most negative stories happening around us, it's easy to drift along towards the pull of whichever source gets most of our attention. In other words, living in either extreme has become quite normal for our generation. 

So where do you find yourself most days on the spectrum? What do you tell yourself when you're inundated with pictures and posts reflecting new cars, new homes, vacations, Honor Roll students, wedding photos, Pinterest perfection, and such? 

Where does your mind go when you watch the news or read the headlines about another shooting, another attack, another crime, another major storm?

Scripture teaches us that "fiery tests" come into the lives of each and every follower of Jesus. It also reveals to us that these testing times should not come as any surprise. (I wrote in more detail about God's tests which you can find here.) I think that one of the ways our flesh patterns of wrongful thinking become made known is by our own emotional and mental response to what we see others post through their social networks and by our knee-jerk response to the headlines. 

Recently, I posted this on my Facebook :  

There's a lot of talk these days about the wonders and the woes of social media. Some love it. Some hate it. Some love to hate it. Some hate to love it. I've found the balance (for me) in simply remembering that social media, like facebook here, is merely a glimpse into people's lives--it helps us connect to a certain degree; but if we allow it to replace real life connection, we're heading down a slippery slope. Facebook isn't my diary, so I don't share everything here. I have honest-to-goodness, in-real-life relationships who get to know the mess behind the pictures posted and the nitty-gritty details of relationship struggles, financial hardships, personal pain and such. When I see posts, I remember the same is true for all of us: life is messy, unpredictable, and we all deal with personal pain. It doesn't mean we want to share this level of transparency online--and wisely so. Someone once taught me the value in living authentically in front of all, but choosing to be transparent only with a few. I certainly believe this applies in this setting. #My2Cents #FWIW (For what it's worth)

As you read what is posted online via social networks (and blogs!) and/or as you see the headlines, pay attention to what you begin to think about and what you begin to feel. Do your thoughts and emotional responses lean towards negative self-talk? Does your mind or heart begin fretting and worrying over the headlines? Do you begin to feel a little depressed? Do you ever feel hopeless? 

It is helpful in these times to remember that although our Father does not always initiate these posts or headlines to hurt us, nor the other triggers that hit our buttons, He may just be allowing these experiences to test ~ purify ~ our hearts and minds from the debris that remains inside of our thought patterns and emotional reactions. 

Consider re-scripting your internal monologue with these thoughts when the negative ones erupt:

• God, I have everything I need TODAY to do what you have for ME to do TODAY. Thank you for providing for my needs moment-by-moment, day-by-day.
• Father, your grace in me means that even in the worst of experiences, you're weaving your own redemptive thread that is in the process of creating something beautiful ~ something I'm one day going to be so glad you did. May the Jesus in me empower me to be grateful NOW through faith in your good character.
• Lord Jesus, I recognize that just because it isn't my turn to have a party today, it doesn't mean you don't have one in the works. Through Christ's power in me, I choose to celebrate the good things happening for others today in the same way that I would like for them to do for me when it IS my turn.
• God, the world can get so dark sometimes. I become so overwhelmed by the evilness. Point my focus on your sovereignty, let your light shine brightly through me. Help me to remember that, when all is said and done, the darkness doesn't win over the Light of the world. 

You don't have to use these verbatim, of course, but I hope you'll find them to be helpful in your own journey. I pray that this helps you Live WITH Purpose (intentionality, focus, priorities, determination) WiThOUT the Pressure (false guilt, performance-driven for acceptance, hiddenness, etc.)

Enjoy social media, pray as you become aware of the headlines, engage where the Spirit tells you to engage; but remember, above all, to spend time with the Voice of Truth!

Because He First Loved me,

Shelley 

Q & A Church 4 Chicks Panel Questions from the friend Me? Conference

Photo By Amelia Grace Photography

Q and A Church 4 Chicks Panel Questions from The friend Me? Conference 3/16

By

Lucille Zimmerman

Q. “I know that scars from past relationships damage my ability to trust deeply in order to make strong connections. I’ve prayed, but I’m still scared. How can I move past this”? 

A. Let me explain. There’s an important idea about humans called Attachment Theory. 

Attachments are strengthened or neglected when humans are infants. If babies grow up having their needs met, their fears soothed, and if they can come to rely on predictable caregivers, they will probably grow up to be securely attached adults. They will not only trust others, they will trust themselves as worthy of love and capable of getting their needs met.

Sadly, many babies don’t get that. For a quick example of what happened when moms and dads don’t attune, watch this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0

Children often grow up with various forms of abuse (physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual) or neglect. Caretakers die, get depressed, and divorce. In an article written by Marnie Feree, she explains that when this happens a baby’s brain gets flooded with stress hormones and neurotransmitters that imprint a neuronal pathway, affecting a child’s ability to self-regulate. Traumatized individuals search for various ways to calm their brains. A common response to calming a traumatized brain is to medicate through sex, food, shopping, etc.
  

Think about what is needed for genuine intimacy:

• Transparency

• Vulnerability

• Authenticity

• Risk

• Trust

• Honesty

How are those who never learned to form secure attachments going to risk all those things? They’re not. They’re going to seek the counterfeit that gives them the feeling of being in relationship, but without any of the risk.

People can heal by learning to risk attachment with safe people. A recommended counselor or pastor might be a good place to start.

One of my professors used to say the counseling office is a microcosm of the larger world. If I work with a client and over time, get them to trust, take risks, and create a safe attachment with me, and eventually with others, they will heal. When I am trustworthy and genuine, showing love, safety, and acceptance, I have seen clients decide they want to replace fake relationships for the real thing.

As a child, who could you turn to for safety and comfort?

Wisdom

Photo by Lori Kennedy

Wisdom 

                                                           by
                                                   Lori Kennedy

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.”James 1:5(CEV) 

Oh how I wish I knew at 25 what I know at 45 after 20 more years of living, being a mother and wife, seeking God, and 20 more years of falling down and getting back up over and over again. Each day I continue to have life, I realize how much I don’t know and how much there is still to learn.  I remember back to the days when I thought old consisted of anyone over the age of 25 and I thought “old” people were dumb.  I also thought I knew just about everything about everything and oh so much more than anyone else knew.  

We can say that’s just a stage young people go through.  Or, we can call it what it is…the sin of pride.  I was seeking a life consisting of what I considered successful by the world’s standards.  For me it all stemmed from not understanding my identity and not seeking Christ in all things.  I was not a Christ follower at that time and in my people pleasing overachieving way, I was attempting to find worldly success at the sacrifice of my very self; my heart, my dreams and my desires.  I became wise in my own eyes.  God had very special plans for me but I was not seeking them because I was too busy selfishly seeking what I wanted and what I considered was successful; which was worldly success. 

We have all been created with the internal desire to make a difference in this world.  It’s how our heavenly Father designed us.  If we don’t seek wisdom from God in living that out, we might end up seeking things that aren’t part of His hope for our lives.  Those things may not even be bad things.  I once read about a girl who defined herself through her success at swimming.  It was all she lived for.  Swimming in itself is not a bad thing, but if you are defining yourself through your success at any given activity (for me music, playing guitar, singing), then, sooner or later, you will be left feeling unsatisfied.  If our identity is determined by our success at something, then that can be a problem as there will be times that we will fall short of that success.  The first way to make a difference is to find our identity in Him and seek His will.  By making Him famous first, you will make the largest difference in this world. 

The scripture above says to ask God for wisdom and it will be given to you.  I don’t know about you, but I want to make a difference in this world and I want to do it God’s way not man’s way and not my way.  I need ongoing and continued wisdom for that.  Wisdom that I don’t have inside myself; but wisdom that I can get by asking God for it through prayer, seeking it through reading God’s Word, and communicating with God’s people. 

What does making a difference look like in your life? 

Silver Lining

Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

Silver Lining

by Lori Kennedy

“rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3b-4 (NIV) 

Have you ever suffered through something wondering why it is happening or what you are supposed to learn from it?   

When my youngest son was almost thirteen years old, he woke up one Saturday morning with one of his legs hurting.  By the end of that day both legs were hurting and he ran a fever on Sunday night.  We spent that whole week in labs and doctor’s offices ending up in the hospital on Friday night for more testing. 

No-one knew what was wrong with my baby and I have to admit I was very frightened.  The test from Friday night came back with some chilling results so they called us back to the hospital on Saturday for further testing.   

After a whole week of worry and confusion, my child was diagnosed with a staph infection in his bones and was immediately admitted to the hospital to be put on heavy antibiotics.  We were told he might need surgery to drain the pockets of infection in his hips and legs.  We were also told while the rest of his body would continue to grow at a normal pace, his upper thighs may not grow any more.  Each piece of information we received continued to seem worse than the one before.  We finally knew what was going on and were thankful that it was curable, but we could have a very long road ahead of us as the standard hospital stay for children with this problem was over a month. 

Grant ended up being released only a week and is now completely restored from his ordeal.  He never had to have surgery and his growth plates are fine.  In fact, he is taller than me now.  

Each day we had family and friends come to visit.  They prayed with Grant, played games with him, brought him small gifts and specifically spent time with him.  In hindsight, all of the support that we received from our family, friends, and the Body of Christ allowed Grant to see how much he is loved.  This fearful time in our family is now a memory of love.  Grant continues to playfully state that he wants to go back to the hospital so that he can feel that kind of committed love again. 

I realize that not all situations stories have such a perfect ending.  However, looking back on this type of experience can lead us to rejoice in our sufferings knowing that His plans for us are better than ours.  

So back to my original question; have you ever suffered through something wondering why it is happening or what you are supposed to learn from it?  I challenge you to try to remember one today.  It’s a great way to see God working in your life.

It's Reigning Grace, y'all!

It's Reigning Grace, y'all!!

Welcome to our newest series, "It's Reigning Grace," written by our Writing Team. Make sure to bookmark this page and subscribe so that you don't miss a single post. Share it with your friends as this is a gift that will keep on giving. We are honored to meet with you here. 

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Light It Up!

by Shelley Hendrix

Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

Panic. Insecurity. Inadequacy. 

Ugh.

I hate these feelings, and yet, every year at this time of year, like clockwork, they surface within me. Like old enemies I thought I had put in my past and out of my life, they arrive without warning and certainly without invitation. And, yet, they arrive. (I really hate admitting this, too.) 

The thoughts that try their darnedest to torment me are thoughts like, "Who do you think you are to try to do anything of value?" "What's the point in doing all of this when there are others already doing a much better job?" "You're only setting yourself up for embarrassment and failure." I could go on, but I think you get the gist.

As December turns into January and as I pack up another Christmas Season, I take a look at the upcoming events in a new year, and I wrestle with my own thoughts like the ones above and the emotions already confessed. Thankfully, Someone else enters into these thoughts and emotions with me, rather than leaving me alone to battle them myself. Someone who only speaks truth. Someone who always shows grace. Someone who loves me with an unfailing, everlasting, unconditional love. Someone who prefers that I acknowledge and confess this rather than fight it on my own.

Truth be told, I'd much rather experience HIS GRACE than my own 'greatness.' In other words, I much prefer depending on God's sufficiency than my own strengths. My determination, then, shifts from fighting a battle to resting in the grace of the Almighty who promises victory when I look to Him. With this in mind, I offer my little spark of a life to the Giver of Light and will trust Him to decide when, how, and where to let it shine!

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What about you? How have you chosen to handle these kinds of thoughts and emotions in the past? How do you purpose to handle them in 2013 and beyond?

We'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!