Tag: Church

Redemption, Baptism and Her Real Name – Celebrating A Dancer’s Salvation Story

Written by tmadmin on 14 May 2014. Posted in Blog. 2 Comments on Redemption, Baptism and Her Real Name – Celebrating A Dancer’s Salvation Story

“Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43: 18-19

This past Sunday it could not have been more clear to me that God was doing a new thing and it was springing up before my very eyes! I had the privilege of witnessing the baptism of one of our new friends that we met in one of the strip clubs in Indianapolis. She actually came to church with us for the first time on Easter Sunday because, Stefanie, a former dancer who is now part of our Stripped Free team was sharing her redemption story in each of our services. (Read her amazing story here!)

We had developed such a sweet friendship with this woman and during recent visits to the clubs she would begin to cry as we would talk with her. She told us she was so unhappy and she didn’t understand what was going on in her life. She didn’t see any way out. We told her she should come to church with us to hear Stefanie’s story. We reminded her that the God who rescued Stef was the same God who wanted to rescue her. Over the next few weeks we prayed and kept reaching out to her hoping she would take us up on our offer. Sure enough she came walking into the church right before the start of our Saturday night Easter service! Tears flowed down her precious cheeks as she heard Stef’s story and the tears continued through each song that was sung and the Word that was preached. We could see God’s transforming work happening right in front of us.

At the end of the service there was a time for people to commit their hearts to Christ for the very first time. Stef looked at our friend and whispered, “The pastor was talking right to you, wasn’t he?” Tears flowed again as our friend acknowledged that she wanted to enter into this life-changing relationship, so Stef prayed with her right there on the front row of the church as she made her confession and asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. Praise God!!!

Something else very special happened in that sacred space and tender moment. You see, before that church service we never knew our friend’s real name. I’ve learned in my short time of going into clubs that all strippers have a “stripper name.” No one else in the clubs knows the real names of these girls. To get a dancer to tell you her real name is the same as her sharing a piece of her heart and that’s not going to happen inside the clubs. The work these girls do is devastating to their hearts, souls and psyches, even if they don’t admit it. They dance under other names as a survival technique and a way of protecting themselves. It’s a way of keeping people out of the inner recesses of their hearts. So before Stef prayed with our friend, she asked and found out for the first time what her real name was. What a beautiful moment, to finally know her by the name God has known her by all along. No more hiding, no more feelings of shame, no more bondage. Jesus set her free!!

She never returned to the club after praying to receive Christ. She quit her job instantly and we began to walk this new journey with her. Please continue to pray for all of us as she begins to rebuild her life. She’s not doing this alone. She has God and the Stripped Free team is working hard to be His hands and feet in her life.

And the story just keeps getting better! Our beautiful friend got baptized this past Sunday on Mother’s Day. Dead to sin and alive in Christ! Hallelujah!!! We are so thankful for our new sister and for the One who has the power to make all of us new!!! Thanks for partnering with us in prayer. We can’t tell you how we appreciate it! You can join the celebration and follow our journey by liking our page on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

Strippers Can’t Be Saved

Written by tmadmin on 29 April 2014. Posted in Blog. 9 Comments on Strippers Can’t Be Saved

Yes, that title was a comment in response to one of my previous blogs about our new Stripped Free ministry. But before I get into all that let me just say the last six weeks are a bit of a blur. They have been a whirlwind and I’m still trying to sort through all of the events in my own mind. I’ve been in ministry in some form or another for almost twenty-five years now and never have I experienced anything like what has taken place the last few weeks with the launch of this new ministry. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it all.

It started with me putting out a little blog titled, “You’re Doing WHAT???” Now you need to understand something. I’ve been blogging, albeit sporadically, for the last four or five years. My husband, Brian, would say one or two blogs a year doesn’t count as “blogging,” but hey, I was trying! I had managed to get a following of a whopping fifty readers for my “hugely popular” blog and I was fine with that. (and thank you for reading!) A few months ago I decided it was time to step up my writing efforts so I wrote six blogs in one day to have on the shelf for future use. One was about a new ministry to strippers in the clubs of Indianapolis where I live. I had no intentions of releasing that blog right away. I wasn’t sure about this new ministry or how people would respond to it, so I kept it on the shelf for a few weeks until my partner in the strip ministry, Stef, saw it and read it. She said, “This is really good and you need to put it out there and let people know what we’re doing in the clubs.” I said, “Really? Now?” She convinced me, so I published the blog on a Tuesday morning intending to make this “grand” announcement to my robust readership of fifty. I then went about my day. Later that morning the texts from Brian started. “Have you seen your blog stats? You’re at 300 reads.” I texted back, “Wow, that’s impressive for me.” Well, that was just the beginning. At the end of it all roughly 5,000 people read that blog. What???? Believe me, no one was more stunned than I was. I told Brian, “I guess we’re launching this ministry now!”

The blog led to different interviews, which in turn led to many interesting comments about this new ministry. It turns out loving women in strips clubs in the name of Jesus is pretty controversial. Who knew?! I’ve heard everything from accolades to condemnation and that is just from my Christian brothers and sisters. It’s been quite an eye-opener.

I feel compelled to address a few things. While I appreciate the kind words, I don’t deserve accolades. I’m just trying to do what Jesus calls each of us to do as His followers: to love God and love people and that means ALL people.There are many who have been involved in different strip ministries in the city of Indianapolis far longer than I have. I am learning a lot and am so grateful to have others to turn to for prayer and advice.

By the same token, I’ve been surprised at the condemnation. Now in all fairness, some obviously chose not to read the original blog, which explained in detail what I was doing. Some only read the title and the first line and jumped to the conclusion that I was actually going into the clubs to BE a stripper under the guise of a “strip ministry.” Oh yes, there are more than a few who think I have lost my mind and am stripping in the name of Jesus. I know. It’s laughable.

But then there are those who made comments that not only made me scratch my head, but also were so contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ it was mind blowing. Comments like, “Strippers can’t be saved,” and the ever popular, “You are the devil’s helper.” Really? After reading those comments, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry, so I opted instead to find living proof that those statements are inaccurate and a lie from the pit of hell. And yes, those comments were also from some of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I didn’t have to look very far for living proof. I’m walking with someone every day who is proof and so much more. My friend, Stef, is an ex-dancer who has been transformed by the power of God. She courageously shared her story on Easter Sunday during our church services. She is living and breathing proof that strippers CAN be saved and that God loves everyone regardless of where they find themselves. I am so thankful for her being the trophy of God’s grace that she is. Where would any of us be without the transforming grace of Jesus?

God also gave me the privilege of watching one of the dancers from the clubs we go into give her heart to Him during the Easter services at our church a little over a week ago. I’ll talk more about that amazing and joyous experience in my next blog so stay tuned!

Luke 5:29-32 says:

Levi gave a large dinner at his home for Jesus. Everybody was there, tax men and other disreputable characters as guests at the dinner. The Pharisees and their religion scholars came to his disciples greatly offended. “What is he doing eating and drinking with crooks and ‘sinners’?” Jesus heard about it and spoke up, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.” The Message

I only want to introduce people to the Great Physician, the One who can bring healing, freedom and ultimately heart-transformation. My heart’s desire is to please my Father by inviting others to experience His life-changing grace and love.

To my family members in the Church I would just say this: Please don’t think better or worse of me than I am. I actually would prefer you not think of me in this at all. This ministry has nothing to do with me. Every single thing that happens with Stripped Free happens by the hand of Almighty God and He IS moving. I would, however, ask one thing of all of you, especially my sisters in Christ: Will you join me? Will you join me in getting your hands dirty in the name of Jesus? Maybe it’s with a strip ministry or maybe it’s in a completely different area, but can you imagine what would happen if all the women sitting in the pews of our churches would take a step out of their comfort zones and love someone who is in need and different than they are? I get excited just thinking about it!

I know there are many who are already doing so much in Jesus’ name, but I wonder if there are others that are like I was, afraid and not quite sure where to start. There is such a huge need and there are many organizations that are desperate for help. I can say that I’ve learned more about myself and about my Savior by taking this step out and joining Him where He is working than I have at any other time in my life. If God has set you free FROM something in your life, I guarantee He has set you free FOR something. It’s just a matter of asking Him to reveal what that is!

Continue to pray for me and I will pray for you. I would also love to hear what God is calling you to do in the comment section below. God has great things in store and I can’t wait to hear all the amazing life-changing stories to come!

Let’s Connect On Twitter: @KimTabor and @StrippedFree

Stripped Free :: Rescued | Redeemed | Restored

Written by tmadmin on 8 April 2014. Posted in Blog. 6 Comments on Stripped Free :: Rescued | Redeemed | Restored

Tabor Ministries is thrilled to announce a new facet of our Finally Free Women’s Ministry. Stripped Free is a ministry to women who dance in strip clubs in the city of Indianapolis. Our team works to develop relationships with the dancers in order to show them they are loved and they matter to God and us. As followers of Christ, we ourselves have been rescued, redeemed and restored by Him and we know He desires the same for the dancers in these clubs. We are just the mouthpieces to share His love and message.

We would love to connect with you on Twitter – @StrippedFree & Facebook! You can like our Facebook page by clicking HERE.

We want to take this opportunity to thank a few people and organizations that have been inspirations to us on this new journey. They have helped to pave the way and have been doing this type of ministry for many years and we are humbled that God has allowed our paths to cross with such extraordinary women. We specifically want to thank Jeanie Turner of One Way Out Ministries in Ft. Myers, Florida, Kimberly Majeski of Stripped Love in Anderson, Indiana and Sarah Tabb of Unconditional Ministries in Indianapolis, Indiana. We have learned so much from these women and their amazing teams. They have taken the time to pour into us and we are eternally grateful. God is using each of them to impact and transform the women of their cities. We look forward to working with them to build the Kingdom!

We also want to thank our team of beautiful Freedom Fighters! The women we are ministering to aren’t strong enough (spiritually speaking) to fight for themselves, so we are called to fight for them. These are the ladies who are doing spiritual battle in many different ways for Stripped Free. Stefanie Jeffers has to be thanked first. Without God’s work in her life, there would be no Stripped Free. Stefanie is a part of our Finally Free Women’s Ministry and this new facet was birthed out of her own personal story of being an ex-dancer and God’s transforming power of redemption in her life. Thank you also to Misty Javorka, Alex Rufatto-Perry, Elizabeth Sliwa, Jamie Kendall, Johnette Cruz, Kristin Katsis and Cheri Bate. These ladies are all filling different and unique roles and we are SO grateful!

How can you get involved? We’re so glad you asked! There are three ways to get involved:

Pray, Pray, Pray – Please lift up the women in the clubs. Pray that many would come to know Christ and His saving power and that they would realize there IS hope for a different life in Him! Also pray for our team. We need wisdom and protection both physically and spiritually. Pray that we would love these women well, like Jesus loves them.
Invest – There are many different ways to invest with both your time and your resources. We need volunteers. We are putting a prayer team together. A prayer covering is perhaps our most important need. Prayer warriors are a must! We are hoping to have a group who can be praying while we are actually in the clubs. We also need volunteers to supply and assemble gift bags of goodies for the girls. You can also invest financially by making a check out to Tabor Ministries and writing Stripped Free on the memo line and mailing it to the address below or by going to either of our websites www.taborministries.org or www.finallyfreeconference.org and donating to the TM Kingdom Fund and specifying Stripped Free in the Special Instructions/Message area of the payment page. Tabor Ministries is a 501(c)(3) and all gifts are tax deductible.
Share – Please share this ministry with others. Share our blogs with your friends and your churches and help us spread the word. God is already doing some powerful things and we can’t wait to see what He has in store. This is just the beginning!

We hope you will connect with us on Twitter – @StrippedFree & Facebook! You can like our Facebook page by clicking HERE.

Tabor Ministries, Inc.
11057 Allisonville Road, #303
Fishers, IN 46038
www.TaborMinistries.org
www.FinallyFreeConference.org

Waiting……UGH!

Written by tmadmin on 2 April 2014. Posted in Blog.

Let’s Connect!

Twitter: @KimTabor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KimandBrianTabor

In a previous blog I mentioned that I would be talking more about what I have been learning through my “stay by the stuff” desert time. (See my Stay By The Stuff Blog) One of the words I immediately received from God was about the importance of waiting on Him. I know using phrases like, “I received a word from the Lord,” can be controversial. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but it became clear through Scripture and during my prayer time that was the message God had for me at the moment.

I’m just going to be really honest here. Waiting stinks! I don’t like it. Never have and probably never will. The beautiful thing is that God already knows my true feelings about waiting and He’s ok with it. He’s not going to spare me from seasons of waiting. He knows how important those seasons are for building character. Let’s face it, would any of us take the time to REALLY press into Him and have gut-level conversations if life was always going along smoothly and if we got whatever we wanted exactly WHEN we wanted it? I think the honest answer would have to be “no.” The desert times that are full of questions are when God does His most powerful work in us. That’s just a fact.

One of the promises of God I’m still clinging to is Isaiah 64:4. “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” I also love Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” My heart-felt prayer has been that God would act and, yes, even fight on my behalf while I wait on Him. I don’t want to get ahead of Him and try to manipulate circumstances. I’ve done that too many times and just made a mess of things. God doesn’t need my “help” in this regard. There’s a reason, perhaps multiple reasons He wants me to wait. So you know what? I’m going to do just that….wait.

Is God bringing you through a time of waiting right now? Maybe it’s related to a job, finances, health or even a relationship. Whatever it is, if He’s telling you to wait, then wait. You don’t know better than Him. You may be tempted to think you do, but take it from me, you don’t. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.

Start praying those two scripture verses. Don’t just read them. Pray them. Tell God you are counting on Him to fight for you and to act on your behalf and see what happens in the process. And most importantly, DON’T move until He tells you to move!

If you are in a time of waiting I would love to pray with you. Please share in general what you are waiting for and I will join you in lifting that to the Father. It would be a privilege!

God Redeems EVERY Part – Stefanie’s Story

Written by tmadmin on 17 March 2014. Posted in Freedom Stories. 8 Comments on God Redeems EVERY Part – Stefanie’s Story

“Well, you all know I used to be a stripper,” declared the woman sitting next to me at a Bible study I had been invited to lead that evening. She then followed this shocking statement by quoting verses from the Book of Zephaniah. She spoke with clarity and passion and her obvious love of Jesus was contagious. Let me be very candid. I was having a hard time wrapping my mind around all of this. I had never met a stripper, not even an ex-stripper. Throw verses from Zephaniah on top of the situation and it was almost more than this little naive mind could take. “Who IS this woman,” I thought to myself. “I’ve got to meet her and hear more of her story.” That is how I met Stefanie.

I describe Stef as someone who “oozes Jesus.” She is radical in her love of God and love of people. She’s very honest about where she’s been, how she got there and the One who saved and transformed her. I’m privileged to go into local strip clubs with her through a new ministry to strippers in Indianapolis. (More about that in my next blog.) She is the epitome of a living, breathing message of hope for the dancers we meet. John Wesley says, “Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn.” Stef is on fire for Jesus and I get to watch her burn inside those clubs and IT IS POWERFUL. This is her story:

Three years. That is how long it took for me to lose almost everything. And it took almost losing it all for me to turn back to Jesus.

The day I walked out of my job as a paralegal I went to a gravesite to mourn the loss of a child I carried for 4 months but would never have. It was the day my child should have been born. I grieved not only for the baby I would never see, but for a life that looked nothing like I dreamed it would. I was a divorced, single mother of a beautiful daughter. Dead was the dream that marriage would last forever. The new man in my life, the father of the child I lost, was abusive and gone. Dead was the plan that I could create a new family for myself and my daughter. So on that day, in the pouring rain, I cried out in agony for so many things and I never once called upon the name of the Lord. Instead, I listened to the whisper of the enemy and walked right into darkness.

At the age of thirty, I walked into a strip club for the first time. It seems like that should be the day when I came to the end of myself, but it was just the beginning. For three years I sold little pieces of myself and my soul a dollar at a time. Each time I kneeled to pick up money that was thrown at me, I threw away another piece of me. My name would ring out many times as the DJ would call me to the stage, but I didn’t even know who I was anymore. The only thing I knew was the more money I made the more worthless I became. I was bitten, grabbed, pinched, groped, degraded, and humiliated and this was a world I walked into willingly. My surroundings had been dark for so long that my eyes became accustomed to it and I didn’t even realize how lost I was. What I knew, though, was when I looked in the mirror I didn’t recognize myself at all. The empty shell of a woman looked nothing like the child who once loved Jesus with her whole heart.

It became impossible to separate the darkness of my life from the light of the life I had with my daughter. I tried, but as much as I loved her, I didn’t create a home for her that she deserved, so I lost her. The day she left to go live with her dad and stepmom almost killed me. If it hadn’t been for the daily phone calls, the weekly visits, and the weekend visitation I would have just let go and ended it. My life was filled with a crushing despair that I numbed with drugs. I lost my daughter, my home, and most of my possessions. I lost friends. I disappointed my family. This is how far I had to fall to land on my knees and cry out to Jesus to save me. I walked out of the club and left all of my costumes and shoes behind. I have often wondered how long little pieces of me were walking around the bar on the backs of other broken women. I walked out, turned back to God, and swore I would never return.

It has been ten years since I left the clubs for what I thought was the last time. It has been an amazing journey. One step at a time, God has restored my life in ways I could never have imagined. I am now married, have a new daughter, and the daughter I lost has been back home for six years. God’s mercy is not just for me. I will never pretend that I deserve any of the grace He has shown me. Without Him I am nothing. But it was never too late for me to discover His life-changing love, and I have a burning desire to share that with other hurting women. I have been rescued, redeemed, and restored and THAT is why I have returned to strip clubs. The love and hope that I know is for everyone who reaches out to accept it. Someone, though, has to be the one to share Light in dark places, so I go to familiar places I never dreamed I would return to and share Jesus and His love with other women just like me.

Stepping out in faith, saying yes to God’s call on my life, and following Him back into the clubs has been a blessing I could never have anticipated. To be able to speak the name of Jesus in a place where I once thought I could hide from Him is amazing. The first club I stepped into many years after leaving the strip world was the same club where I used to dance. I remember getting ready at home that night and how different it was from years ago when I would be getting ready in the club’s dressing room. I put on my jeans, t-shirt and flip-flops. I walked in there as a woman changed by the power of God. He has redeemed everything. What used to be a private dance area for me has become a place where I have been given the chance to share the Gospel with a sweet dancer who needs to know she is loved right where she is. I have even recently been given money within those walls, not for dancing, but for ministry. Yes, He redeems every part and I am so overwhelmed and grateful.

When I look in the mirror now all these years later, I see someone who is loved by God. I see someone who finally accepts His love, full to overflowing, and I share it with others…one step at a time, one club at a time, one woman at a time…in the name of Jesus and for His glory.

You’re Doing WHAT???

Written by tmadmin on 11 March 2014. Posted in Blog. 19 Comments on You’re Doing WHAT???

So…..I’ve been going into strip clubs lately. There. I’ve said it. Now pick your jaw up off the floor. I know that confession shocks many of you. I recently shared that juicy tidbit of information with some friends I hadn’t seen in a while and to say they were shocked would be an understatement. Why in the world would I, the next best thing to Sandra Dee (ok, so I grew up on the movie Grease), go into a strip club? The answer is simple. There are women in those clubs who are broken and devastated (whether they know it or not) and they need to be told that someone loves and cares about them. There is One who will never leave them and whose love will never change. They need to be introduced to the Great Lover of their souls, Jesus.

The truth is, I go into the clubs for the same reason I go into churches all over the country with our Finally Free Women’s Conferences. There are women sitting in every church in America who are just as broken and devastated as any woman dancing in a club. How can I say that? Because women are women no matter where you find them. We all have insecurities. We’re all afraid we will never measure up. (I have no idea who is holding the measuring stick.) We’re all secretly hoping that somehow someone will find us worth loving and tell us we matter.

This point was made very clear to me just a few weeks ago. My friend, Stefanie, and I were in one of the clubs handing out small gifts to the dancers, which is something we do each time. Inevitably one of the dancers will ask why we are giving them gifts and being so nice? That’s when we have the great privilege of mentioning the name of Jesus inside the walls of those clubs and literally being His Hands and Feet.

On this particular night we were about to leave the club when we noticed a new dancer had just arrived going straight to the stage. We wanted to make sure she received a gift as well, so we walked up to her and held out the gift bag. She stopped and came over to us and asked, “What is this for?” Stefanie spoke right up and said, “We are loved and we want you to know that you are loved too. God loves you and you matter.” I’ll never forget the look in the dancer’s eyes as they began to well with tears. I’ll never forget it because it’s very familiar. I’ve seen it time and again in the eyes of women at our conferences when they hear those same powerful words. God loves you and you matter. I saw that same look as I stared into my own eyes in the mirror many years ago having heard that life-changing truth for the first time. It’s a sacred moment when the words go beyond the ears and enter the mind and begin to sprout in the heart. The moment the tiny fragile seed of belief is planted in a heart with the simple question we secretly ask ourselves, What if? You can see the dancers as the wheels begin to turn in their own minds. “What if these “church ladies” are right? Oh please, let them be right!”

We’ve been developing some amazing relationships inside those walls and each time we enter the clubs we get to throw a splash of water on the tiny seeds that God has already planted in some of the girl’s hearts. It’s truly amazing.

So that’s one of the things I’ve been up to recently. You will be hearing more about this in future blogs as well. I can’t wait to see what God has in store!

Can we make a deal? I’ll pray for you and you pray for me. Please pray for our outreach team that goes into the clubs. Pray for protection and that we would fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel by showing these women God’s unconditional love. And I’ll pray for you as God continues to reveal Himself and as He shows you where you can most effectively use the gifts He’s entrusted to you. It might be in a place where you least expect it!

Stay By The Stuff

Written by tmadmin on 4 March 2014. Posted in Blog.

My computer was freaking out today, so I did what many do. Actually, the only thing I know to do since I am certainly no tech wiz. I restarted it. After the screen went black for a moment, I heard the start-up music and within a few minutes my computer came back to life and began working as good as new! Phew!!

Have you ever needed a restart? Ever needed to hit the reset button on yourself? I’ve just experienced this in my own life over the past 2 months. 2013 was a stellar year in so many ways, but as the year was coming to a close I found myself overwhelmed. To put it mildly, I was dazed and confused. I had somehow lost my focus and my world and life seemed very blurry. There were circumstances that were approaching that I didn’t know how to handle. Problems were arising with no answers. I kept repeating this phrase in my mind, “I don’t see any way for this to work out.” For me, that particular phrase always leads to the same place….panic and worry. Many of you know my story and the stones I carried for so long, my old buddies, Fear and Anxiety. Well, my old unwanted “companions” were back. It took me a while to realize it, but it was true, so I decided it was time to hit the reset button.

That’s how I began 2014. I decided to reset. I heard a pastor preach a sermon a few years ago about what to do when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed and fearful. He said, “What do you do? You stay by the stuff!” What did he mean by that? Pressing in to the One who should always have my gaze and digging into the Word. So that is exactly what I did. I did a version of a Daniel fast, prayed and spent more time in the Word. I stepped up my intensity level with these things. Now please hear me. I’m not saying any of this to make myself sound like a spiritual superwoman. I’m most definitely not! Desperate times call for desperate measures and “desperate” was my middle name.

I mention this because I wonder if there is anyone else out there that needs a restart? Have you lost focus? Are you feeling overwhelmed with life and all the demands that come with it? Maybe even full of worry about how it’s all going to work out? Let me encourage you to press in to your Heavenly Father and to dig into His Scripture. If you’re already doing that, let me encourage you to step up your intensity level by even including some form of a fast.

I went into that desert time with a lot of questions. Do I have all of the answers now? No. But peace has returned and I’m learning how to trust at a deeper level. And my Father has indeed been wooing and teaching me along the way. I’ll be sharing some of the things I’ve been learning and some of the things I’ve been questioning in future blogs, so stay tuned. But for now, stay by the stuff. It’s the only way to come back to life.

Let’s Connect On Twitter: @KimTabor

Be Joyful Always?

Written by tmadmin on 23 May 2013. Posted in FF Video Blog.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always? Really? This has been a tough week in so many different ways. Every time I turn on the news I’m reminded of the lives and homes that were lost in OK. So much devastation. There are senseless killings here and abroad…..one person horrifically claiming “an eye for an eye” as a reason for brutally murdering an innocent man walking down the street in London.

Then there are things happening in our personal lives. Really tough things. A sweet friend of mine had been praying for a liver transplant for her mom and it looked like God was working to make that happen. Tiny miracles were happening along the way and she and her mom were both clinging to that each day. Over the weekend her mom suddenly took a turn for the worse and she passed away a few days ago before a liver became available. Be joyful always?

Joy in the midst of the storm is only possible with Christ. I don’t know any other way to say it. Is it difficult to live above our circumstances at times, you better believe it is. But it IS possible and I’ve got to choose to have enough faith to live that out in my own life. The verse from 1 Thessalonians wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t possible. God’s not a game player using us as His pawns for entertainment. He wouldn’t tell us to live a certain way if it wasn’t attainable.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS! And I thank God for that! It’s only when I keep my eyes fixed on Him that I have any chance at all of living above my momentary troubles still finding joy in life.

Today you may find yourself on a mountaintop or in the midst of a valley. Either way, I would love to hear what is bringing you joy today? Sometimes it’s good to just write it down as a reminder to ourselves. You can comment below.

Books That Challenge Me

Written by tmadmin on 20 May 2013. Posted in Books.

I love to read and occasionally I like to post what I’ve been reading in the hopes that these books can challenge others as well. God has gifted so many in the area of writing and I’ve gleaned little treasures from some wonderful books through the years. Here is what is impacting me currently:

Ruthless Trust by Brennan Manning – I read this book or portions of it at least once a year. I don’t know anyone who writes more honestly or sincerely about the grace of God and our desperate need for it. He challenges me to look at things from a different perspective and I love that. Brennan finished his race here on earth a few months ago and he will be greatly missed.
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen – What a powerful book about the parable of the Prodigal Son. I never realized I resembled not only the prodigal, but also naturally the elder son. Most importantly, I should strive to resemble the Father in the story. What a great reminder.
Half the Church: Recapturing God’s Global Vision for Women by Carolyn Custis James – Have you ever heard the term ezer-warrior? Carolyn discusses this term and what it means to be a woman today and an ezer-warrior for the Kingdom of God. Women are strong and brave and it’s time we step up to our battle positions for His Kingdom!
The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson – This book has forever changed my prayer life. What do you want God to do for you? Is it ok to even ask that question? Mark talks candidly about deep desires and what happens when we seek God earnestly and “pray through” for His inspired desires in our lives.
The Freedom Of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller – This is a power-packed little book. It’s only 44 pages long, but I have most of it highlighted. “What are the marks of a supernaturally changed heart? A truly gospel-humble person is not a self-hating person or a self-loving person, but a self-forgetful person.” Wow. A deeply convicting book.

I would love to hear from you if you’ve read any of these books or if you want to share others that are impacting you right now.

A Life Worth Living

Written by tmadmin on 4 February 2013. Posted in Blog.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Isn’t it comforting to know that God has plans for you? And they’re not plans to harm you, but plans for you to prosper in Him! He has your best in mind. So many of His children are barely hanging on by a thread, but you don’t have to live that way. He doesn’t just want you surviving this life. He wants you to flourish! No matter what you are facing today, I hope you will take a moment and remind yourself of this eternal truth. Life can be hard and painful at times, yes, but God wants you to live your life as one who knows and understands that you have hope in each moment and a beautiful future in Him and with Him. That’s a life worth living!

Remember: “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”