Praying Woman

I'm still around. Been blogging in other places and such. Things are going ok. If you have a Live Journal or Yahoo 360 and would like to be connected to me, comment and leave a link to your site. Or, if you have a myspace and would like to connect to me there, leave a link to it. Thanks!!

I know it's been a while since I have updated here. Things are going pretty good here. I have been busy blogging in other places and I moved a lot of my older material from this site to my personal webpage at michellemarshall.net. I decided to check on this blog and I saw that ppl are still visiting and commenting and one comment in particular caught my attention. It was about the Emmaus Walk. No, I've never been on one, but I am scheduled to go on one in early March. I am looking forward to it and have heard a lot of good things about them. Some aspects of it has me nervous. I don't like to be emotional in front of other people. I don't show emotions well in large groups and I am not fond of public speaking... and I am sure the weekend will include both of those things. There are quite a few ppl going from my church so at least I will know some ppl there, but I am pretty sure we will not be in the same group once we get there. Still, it will be comforting to know there are ppl there I do know.

Hubby and I spent the weekend at the Fall Festival of Marriage (FOM) at Osage Beach, Missouri at the Tan-Tar-A Resort. Man, was it nice. The weather was beautiful the majority of time (had a whopper of a storm blow through Sat. night) and the workshops were excellent. It was just a nice time away from the house and kids and responsibilities here. The theme for the year at FOM was... sex. At the FOM we took a class on "The 5 Love Languages" which I have read before and which I highly recommend. Now that we know what each other's love languages are, the goal is to start filling those needs. It's sort of like, if I know he needs physical touch and words of affirmation, then I need to do that. In turn he is going to feel loved and secure in the marriage and be happier to help me out. In turn he is going to meet my love language needs which will make me feel safe and secure and loved and I am going to be more open and willing to him. All of the workshops were helpful to us. We went to two workshops on finances and we are hoping to go through our income and expenses and make a budget and make a plan for the future. Actually have it in writing and see what our goals are to keep us focused on the big picture. My hubby and I decided that we didn't learn A LOT of new stuff, but what we were reminded of was important. Plus, there is a difference between me sitting down and reading a great a relationship book and trying to implement stuff in it, and us BOTH getting the information together and deciding together to implement the stuff. I'm looking forward to see what changes we make and what changes we make and also keep.

Just read a really good book (at work ) called Secrets of the Vine for Women. I have to admit, when the original Secrets of the Vine book came out, I did NOT jump on the bandwagon and buy or read it. However, eventually I did get around to reading it (same with The Prayer of Jabez book) and it was good. When I saw there was a Secrets book for women, well, I decided to give it a go. I am now glad I did. It was excellent (and a fast read). It was so good, in fact, that I ended up ordering a copy for each of the women on the women's ministry team for a Christmas gift. Made for an inexpensive but very thought provoking gift, which I hope they will get as much from it as I did. I felt it very relevant for my own life, as well as for our ministry for the women of our church. I ended up photocopying several pages and highlighting, as well as taking down notes in my notebook. I think one of the best things I read in the book was about Mary and Martha. One line in particular caught my attention: "Mary had chosen to be with Him, and that was better than doing for Him." The whole point of this little line was that "most women struggle to get to the end of their to-do list each day. Spending time with God becomes just another activity on our list, when in fact it should be the paper on which we prioritize everything else we do!" Something else I noted... "You're too busy not to abide!" Talk about truth!! Anyway, just wanted to share. It's time for me to head home now! WUHU!!!

Just wanted to share a bit about the conference my husband and I went to this past weekend. It was put on by Lifeway and was excellent. The workshops hubby and I went to were thorough and well thought out IMO. If your marriage is in need of some encouragement, or fresh ideas, this is definately a great resource. Be sure to stop by Lifeway's site and check out the information there. Some of the workshops we went to were: The Five Love Languages, His Needs Her Needs, Sexuality, Prayer and Bible study as a couple, Finances I & II. The theme this year is "sex" and the theme for 2006 is "busyness". I don't have much time to write more right now, but I'll be back to write more about the retreat in a while!

I'll admit, it's been a while since I posted here. I have been writing in other places and been super busy with life. If I continue writing here, that makes 4 places I am writing... I guess I am trying to figure out how to limit how many different places I am writing etc. Plus, I moved some stuff to my webpage. I have a journal at LJ at http://www.livejournal.com/users/prayingwoman/ where I have been posting and moderate a group there for christian women. Feel free to check it out. I also write at Yahoo! 360 under my ID recipe_addict. And, I have a xanga account.

Parable of the Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through them.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with God daily.

-- Author Unknown

http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D157063%2526M%253D200358,00.html

http://www.gbod.org/ministries/family/family_newsletter/fall04/p2.html

http://www.creativeladiesministry.com/toolshed.html

http://www.wmcc.net/beginning_steps.htm

Your hope is in God! (Psalm 146:5, Lamentations 3:25)

Your hope is in the power and majesty of his Name.

(Matt. 12:21, Psalm 52:9)

You can be joyful in hope (Rom. 12:12) for it holds the seeds of faith and love. (Col. 1:5)

Hope is the foundation for faith and knowledge. (Titus 1:2)

Hope is your calling. (Eph. 1:18)

Hope is alive. (I Peter 1:3)

Hope is a gift from God (Jer. 29:11) and it will never disappoint you. (Rom. 5:5)

Hope is Christ in you. (Col. 1:27)

It is the anchor for your soul. (Heb. 6:19)

Hope will embolden you. (II Cor. 3:12)

Hope is Jesus Himself! (I Tim. 1:1)

Ten Terrific Training Resources

1. The Women's Ministry Handbook (Carol Porter)

2. Women's Ministry in the 21st Century (Group)

3. Women Reaching Women and Transformed Lives (Lifeway)

4. Leading Women to the Heart of God (Lysa TerKerkeurst)

5. www.precept.org (Kay Arthur) - training women to teach God's Word

6. Release Your Potential (Elizabeth Inrig)

7. The Focus on the Family Women's Ministry Guide (Gospel Light)

8. www.classervices.com (Florence & Marita Littauer) - training for speakers

9. Now Discover Your Strengths (Marcus Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton)

10. www.womensministry.net - our website and newsletter, of course!