Missing Out

My sis flew to sunny California a few days ago for a store directors' conference. We talked Sunday night and exchanged a few texts Monday discussing her safe arrival and her glimpse of the Crystal Cathedral on route to the resort she'll be staying at.

Because she'll be going, going, going the entire time she's there, I probably won't hear from Jill until she touches down at the Detroit airport Friday evening. We don't always talk every day, but usually do for at least a few minutes (thank God for Alltel), so the fact that she's "unavailable" is really bothering me. It's not like I have anything pressing I need to get off my chest and nothing over-the-top exciting has happened, I think it boils down to a sense of security in knowing she's always there.

This might be the lamest statement ever but all I could think about today is that I'm so thankful God is always there. Always available, always concerned, always involved. Ever hearing...

The Lord never leaves me or forgets about me but I miss Him a lot. How do I "miss" Him?

I miss Him when:

I get too busy to spend the kind of time with Him I need.

I get too distracted and overwhelmed by all the stuff that life throws at us.

I spend my alone time in the car talking on my phone instead of singing at the top of my lungs to my favorite praise songs.

I spend more time worrying about myself than worshiping His greatness.

The list can go on and on but here's the bottom line: when my focus is off I don't just get lonely for the Lord - I literally miss out on Him. I miss out on seeing Him in motion. I miss out on hearing His voice and feeling His presence.

So here's my prayer, Lord keep my eyes fixed on You. You are so much greater than anything else that competes for my thoughts, time and energy. Be the absolute center of my world.

Psalm 63:1-8
63 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
NIV

INSECURE NO MORE!

After much deliberation I'm pleased to announce the theme for our Fall women's retreat:

OVERCOMING INSECURITY!

Our format will be a little different than what we've done in the past. We will watch a DVD by Beth Moore on this subject that is approximately 1 hour in length, I will speak and (I'm very excited about this) my sister, Jill Smith, will be sharing her testimony with us as well. If there are two sisters on the face of the earth who know first hand the painful captivity that is insecurity, it is Jill and me. I know we're not the only ones, though! This is something we all struggle with to one degree or another and I'm convinced God wants to set us free!

I want this to be a very interactive weekend so here's where you all come in.

First, please begin to pray about this weekend. I believe we can expect a mighty, delivering move of the Holy Spirit during our time together and prayer leading up to the date will be a crucial part of this.

Second, I'm taking a poll to get a better idea of where we're all at on this issue. Even if you aren't able to attend I would love your input on this subject. If you have other friends or co-workers who don't mind sharing that would be great too.

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most) please rate your struggle with insecurity.

2. In what areas of your life does insecurity effect you the most?

3. What do you believe are the 3 main causes of your insecurity? This might go back to childhood...

Now, if you want to remain anonymous (I completely understand if that's the case), then feel free to answer these questions by leaving a comment on this post by clicking on the circle by "anonymous." I will also have a basket on the book table at church where you can leave your answers. If you don't care if I know it's you then you can respond via email. I will keep all info personal info private at your request.

*Date: October 16th - 17th

*Check in between 5:45pm - 7pm on Friday. Check out will be mid-afternoon on Saturday.

*Feel free to invite friends, family, etc. All are welcome.

*Items to bring: bedding/sleeping bag, comfy clothes, appetizer or dessert, towel, Bible.

*The retreat will be held at the same location, the Pines at Camp Geneva.

*The cost is $45 with a deposit of $25 due as soon as possible. Please do not let finances keep you from attending, if that is an issue just let Barb or me know. We are confident that God will provide as He always has in the past. If you have not yet signed up please shoot me an email or leave a comment here and I'll add you to the list so we can get our reservations set.

If you have any other questions let me know.

Finally, don't let any INSECURITIES keep you from coming! :)

Love,

Leigh

*P.S. There will be no games! :D

Bible Study News

As August begins to wind down my thoughts are turning to our fall session of ladies Bible study. We will be back at it in our new location at the old St. Margaret's Church building beginning September 17th from 9:45am - 11am. Childcare for children up to 5 years of age will be provided as well as supervision for home schooled children. (I have no idea if it should be home school children or home schooled children, but you get my drift. :))

We will be spending 10 weeks based in the Gospels delving into the teachings of Christ for our "Red Letter Study." My heart's desire and prayer for us is to get to know our Jesus better through the study of His words, love Him more as a result and be transformed to a greater degree into His likeness. That's a mighty huge wish list but we have a mighty big God whose Word is nothing short of life changing!

Because my plate is rather full at the moment I won't be teaching an evening Bible study this year but there is something I'm really excited to let everyone know about. Jamie H. will be leading Jennifer Rothschild's Me, Myself and Lies study at Plainwell Assembly on Thursday evenings at 7pm, beginning September 17th and concluding October 29th. Participants need to purchase a workbook which costs $15. The money is due by September 6th and I would be happy to pass the money on to Jamie if that would make it easier for anyone. I have heard lots of incredible things about this study and I know Jamie and the other women at Plainwell Assembly would welcome any of us with open arms.

If you have any questions just let me know.

Love you,

Glory Hallelujah, And I Mean It!

Ok, it's true confession time. Back in March I filed an extension on our corporate return. Every week since then has come and gone with me seriously planning on diligently devoting myself to the work that didn't just remain undone but kept mounting at an alarming rate.

Well, extensions will only last so long and mine runs out next month. This is the part in the story where my mourning turns to dancing. Nathan's Sarah is studying to be an accountant and is already fluent in QuickBooks because she handles all of that at her Dad's store. Are you ever like me with God's provision right under your nose, dating your 2nd born son, and yet you're still asking the Lord for help?!? I'm sure thankful He's patient, at times obvious, and extremely faithful.

Bless the girl's heart, she has entered 390 checks in tonight - no easy task when you figure she even has to decipher Mark's handwriting! While she pecked out away at it, I cleaned and organized my office and all the paperwork that's going to my accountant and lo and behold, actually see a light at the end of the tunnel. Praise the Lord!

Now on to more disturbing matters. For some reason I have been receiving dating requests by a young woman online who thinks I'm a man and wants to hang out in a neighboring town sometime. I know this is a mistake, but still... As if that wasn't bad enough, I just got an email offer for counseling that promises to make me a new man in 7 days! Now I'm wondering if I need to take this as a sign that I really should start waxing my upper lip!!!

Faith. Hope. Love.

My sister emailed me last night to scold me for being so lax in the blog department lately. She's right but I thought I might turn the tables on her a tad bit. Below is an email she sent me on Sunday. It's extremely "blog worthy" but I am posting it without prior clearance from her. Oh well, in the words of Pastor Dave, which I might add Nathan LOVED, sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. :)

Seriously, I know what she wrote will bless all of you. It sure blessed me.

I just bought the new Hillsong DVD, "Faith Hope Love" and it's incredible as usual. There is one song that I cannot quit listening to that has greatly spoken to my heart which is "Yahweh". Run, do not walk, to purchase the CD or download it, just for that song alone.

On the DVD, one of the Hillsong pastor's talks about the name Yahweh before the song starts because he wants the congregation to engage in understanding the meaning of the name Yahweh and how GLORIOUS and ENORMOUS our Lord is. Yahweh is different than the other names of Jesus. IT IS MUCH MORE PERSONAL. Often translated, Lord, it was the name used when God made humanity. The name Yahweh is used the first time worship is mentioned and also at the cross when Christ was crucified. Exodus Chapter 3, when God reveals Himself to His people, "I AM THAT I AM", He is the eternal self-existing One, I will be what I will be. He was declaring the TRUTH of Who is He to His people. HE IS OUR COVENANT KEEPING GOD. Thank You, Lord! And then, Jesus Christ comes to earth, Jesus meaning SAVIOR, Christ meaning ANNOINTED ONE. He wasn't just Jesus Christ, He was and IS the LORD Jesus Christ. Today He is the Lord who heals, Who is here, our Provider. He is Yahweh. He wants to reveal Himself to US as our Lord, our Champion. Yahweh.

I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for a MAJOR INVASION of Yahweh in my life...I want it to be so personal. I want to hear His voice, know it is Him speaking to me and respond without hesitation and to be full of faith. I want Yahweh to be MORE than enough for everything in my life.

We serve an astounding God who is sooooooooo complex and yet sooooooooooo available. Amazing, isn't it?! How fortunate and blessed are we that we know Him and that He knows us and calls US by name???

I don't know about you, but I'm believing for a MAJOR MOVE OF YAHWEH IN MY LIFE THIS WEEK, IN MY HEART, IN MY MIND (transform us, Lord by the renewing of Your Word), AT MY JOB... I will believe and pray for the same for you as well.

You are loved by Yahweh....He finds you delightful. Glory to His precious Name!

Love you,

Jill

This Could Just Be The Best $25 You'll Ever Spend

Third Reformed Church on North 10th Street in Kalamazoo will be a host site for Beth's live simulcast, August 28-29. The doors open at 7pm Friday night and the simulcast runs from 8 - 10:30pm. Things start back up Saturday morning with the doors opening at 8:30am and the simulcast running from 9:30am - 1:00pm. There will be a continental breakfast served at 8:30.

I went last year and it was wonderful and will be there later this month with bells on! Third Reformed's ladies were incredibly gracious hostesses and made us feel very much at home. We worshipped with Travis Cottrell and of course Beth knocked our socks off with her brilliant teaching of God's Word.

To order your ticket online click here. If you have any questions just give me a holler.