Women of Prayer

I came across this devotion and it inspired me so much that I want to share it with you to encourage you to action as well. On this Thanksgiving Day, I am so very thankful for all of the women and men that have prayed for me, my family and the ministry that God has allowed me to steward over. My prayer is that the lives of those in my sphere of influence will be impacted by the prayers I pray for them, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

"In one year, Christianity lost three holy women of faith, Agnes Sanford, Corrie Ten Boom and Catherine Marshall - as well as countless others whose names are unknown but who nevertheless did the work of God in this world. These are the women who knew what it meant to experience the presence of the unseen, who spent hours on their knees, who wept over the wounds of the world. For them, prayer was a second language. Who will take their place?

Frankly, there are very few candidates from our generation of women - those of us who have lavished hours in front of the television set, in the shopping plazas, in self-indulgence, in not developing a disciplined spiritual life.

Unless - unless we begin to grow up spiritually, Unless we become convinced that we are the generation of Christian adults ultimately responsible for the spiritual condition of our nation. we must understand that there are increasingly few in that generation ahead of us left to pray over this world. We are coming of age. But are we coming to terms with our lack of spiritul depth and ability?

It is we who must learn the meaning of forbearing.
It is we who must develop the disciplines of spiritual perseverance, not shrinking back from growth but doing the will of God, having faith and keeping our souls.
It is we who must become women of faith and prayer and obedience and service.
It is we who must set a spiritual standard for the next generation.
It is time for us all to grow up."

By Karen Burton Mains

Truly, Be IN courage!

United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle

Something to make you smile

Click on the link below, turn the volume up on your computer, watch and enjoy.
Be refreshed by the beauty of the amazing simplicity of it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k&feature=related

Be IN courage.

Linda Michelle

DON'T QUIT - A reminder to Be IN Courage

DON'T QUIT


When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit --
Rest if you must, but don't quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow --
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a fair and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out --
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit, --
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

-- Author Unknown --


Be IN Courage, even the more!

United with you in strength and victory,
With love,
Linda Michelle

PEACE

I found this devotion today and I pray and trust it will bless and encourage you.

From Streams in the Desert - 366 Daily Devotional Readings by L.B. Cowman

October 20

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

There is a part of the sea known as "the cushion of the sea." It lies beneath the surface that is agitated by storms and churned by the wind. It is so deep that it is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When the ocean floor in these deep places is dredged of the remains of plant or animal life, it reveals evidence of having remained completely undisturbed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

The peace of God is an eternal calm like the cushion of the sea. It lies so deeply within the human heart that on external difficulty or disturbances can reach it. And anyone who enters the presence of God becomes a partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.
Arthur Tappan Pierson

When winds are raging o'er the upper ocean,

And waves are tossed wild with an angry roar,

It's said, far down beneath the wild commotion,

that peaceful stillness reigns forevermore.

Far, far beneath, noise of tempests falls silent,

and silver waves lie ever peacefully,

and no storm, however fierce or violent,

Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.

So to the heart that knows Your love, O Father,

There is a temple sacred evermore,

And all life's angry voices causing bother

Die in hushed silence at its peaceful door.

Far, far away, the roars of strife fall silent,

and loving thoughts rise ever peacefully,

and no storm, however fierce or violent,

Disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Be IN courage.

United with you in strength and victory,

and peace, with love,

Linda Michelle

FAITH IN ACTION - Living Worry-Free

Whatever our situation, the Word of God holds our answer. We cannot worry and think on the Word at the same time. We can conquer worry by keeping our thoughts set on God's Word.

To do this, we must:

1. Find scriptures that pertain to our situation.

2. Write these verses down.

3. Read these verses aloud - not in a whisper - when we're tempted to worry.
We must speak louder than the voice of fear. As we continually confess these verses, our faith in God will rise and our situation will turn around.

(Original Author Hagee or Copeland)

Be IN courage.

United with you in strength and victory,
Linda Michelle

The Woman You Are in God's Mirror. Take Another Look.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”
(Psalm 139:14-16)


“…My imposter trembles at the prospect of incurring the displeasure and wrath of others. Incapable to direct speech, he hedges, waffles, procrastinates and remains silent out of fear of rejection.”

“As James Masterson has written in The Search for the Real Self, ‘The false self plays it’s deceptive role, ostensibly protecting us - but doing so in a way that is programmed to keep us fearful of being abandoned, losing support, not being able to cope on our own, not being able to be alone.” End Quote***

For the average human being, the above statement holds a lot of truth, but for those who have come through the trauma of incest or similar acts, we can rewrite the words about hiding behind fear and wanting to please others using our own experiences.

BUT! The good news is as you continue to re-learn who you really are and all you were created to be and to do, you grow beyond mere illusions of who you have thought yourself to be and step into your true identity.

We are not the abuse that that happened to us, but instead we are created in the image and beauty of God. We are the miracle that was and still is; before and after the mess.

We are not the timid, fearful little girl hiding her head under the blankets; instead we are the strong, courageous saint pressing forward, growing in grace and strength, evolving more everyday into the vessel of honor which God created us to be.

We are not the victim being tricked into acts that defy our very nature, instead we are instruments of holiness, encouragement and inspiration, encouraging others through their personal “red sea” by our own testimony and prayer.

We are not the “nothing” we were told we were; instead we are more than a conqueror, more precious than the rarest jewels.

We are eternally the beloved of a Heavenly Father who understands our confusion, can clarify our questions, willing to calm our fears, supply our every need; emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually. He is our Refuge and our Strength; a very present help in the time of trouble. He is wonderful, marvelous and beautiful, and you and I were created in His image!

Now pause and calmly think about that!! Selah.


WHO I AM…..

I Am Accepted…

John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 I am Christ’s friend.
Rom 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Cor 6:17 I am untied with Christ and have become One with Him.
1 Cor 6:19-20 I was brought with a price. I belong to God.
1 Cor. 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
2 Cor 5:17 I am a new creation.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, I no longer live, but Christ live in me. He is now my life.
Eph 1:1 I am a SAINT!
Col. 1:14 I am redeemed and forgiven.
Col 2:10 I am complete in Christ. I AM SECURE…
Ro. 8:1 I am forever free from condemnation.
Ro. 8:28 I am assured that God works all things together for my good.
2 Cor 1:21 I am established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Col 3:3 I have died and now my life is hidden with Christ in God.
Phil 1:6 I know God’s work in me will be perfected
Phil 3:30 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Tim 1:7 I was not given a spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power and love. I have a sound mind.
Heb 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need.


I AM SIGNIFICANT…

Rom 11:16 I am holy!
John 15:1,5 I am a branch of the true vine and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 I am chosen by Christ to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 I am a personal witness of Christ.
Heb 2:11 I am sanctified and am one with Christ, so
1 Pet 2:9-10 He is not ashamed to call me His own.
1 Cor 2:16 I have been given the mind of Christ.
1 Cor 3:16 I am God’s temple, His Spirit lives in me.
2 Cor 6:1 I am God’s co-worker.
Eph. 2:6 I am seated with Christ in Heavenly places.
Eph. 2:10 I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do the work He planned beforehand.
Eph. 3:12 I may approach God with boldness and confidence.
Phi. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
1 John 3:1 God has bestowed a great love on me and called me…His Child!


(***from Abba’s Child, The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging by Brennan Manning, NAVPRESS, ISBN -1-57683-334-8)

Be IN Courage.
Written with love,
United with you in strength and courage,
Linda Michelle

Prayer to Renew Your Health

I came across this today and it blessed not only me, but it was the perfect words to share with a precious sister-friend going through an intense "real-time" trial. It is simply and to the point. I pray this blesses you as well, at the very point of your need. Be reminded that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and must be strong and healthy for you to remain equipped to do all that you are called to do: in your personal life, at work and in your field of ministry service.

Be IN courage....

Prayer to Renew Your Health

by Norman Vincent Peale

Practice this prayer when you need to feel restored. Sit quietly and feel the working of God in the world, in the life around you. Feel His working in your mind. Let go all anxiety, all conflict and let harmony take over. Feel the touch of the Creator on your physical body.

Say these words:

He who creates also re-creates.

I am being re-created now.

The life force is filling me to overflowing.

I am well, healthy, strong.

I thank God, my Creator, my Re-creator.

Health, vigor, energy, has come to me.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.