There is something to be said for moving when you hear the voice of the Lord. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've ignored that small voice guiding me to go in a certain direction, or telling me to move away from certain situations, warning me to let some things go, encouraging me to pick some things up. When I take it upon myself to move in "my" time, I jack it up every single time. Not this week..................
I've been working toward making sure every single area of my life is submitted to Christ and in doing that I'm more alert to the voice of the Lord. As I've been preparing to put together ministry materials, study guides, etc. I remembered a powerful video I watched when I participated in an awesome women's ministry, Queen Esther Ministry at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland. The video was so powerful that I want the women that participate in Love in the 1st Degree to see it.
I thought about this tape for two weeks. Finally, I could hear that small voice saying "call First Baptist". That one phone call led to me reconnecting with a wonderful woman of God, Carolyn. Not only did I get the name of the video, but she had an extra copy that she's mailing to me. My friend has since written a book, "Marriage from A to Z", so I'll be sharing that with the ministry as well. My conversation with her led me to call a mentor friend to let her know how her womens ministry, Titus 2, is such an inspiration to me and has pushed me to move in the calling the Lord placed on my life, and I shared with her the wonderful conversation I had the day before with Carolyn. That conversation led to her offering me a copy of Carolyn's book and sharing with me that my former pastor was in town. Why is that important? My marriage was healed at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden and Senior Pastor John K. Jenkins counseled us, even when I didn't want counsel. He spoke a word declaration over my life 7 years ago in Maryland that I would minister to other women and bring them hope and encouragement for their marriages. I was so broken I thought he was trippin'. But look at God. Now I get to share my testimony with Pastor Jenkins, and I know he will be so glad to know that I followed the voice of the Lord and His call upon my life. Wow!!!! All of that from a simple phone call recommendation whispered in a small voice from the Lord. This truly gives life to "seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."
To purchase "Marriage from A to Z" by Carolyn Tatem, go to www.amazon.com
For more information about Rev. Belynda Gentry's Titus 2 program, go to www.goyeministries.net
In all you do, do it in love
Tanya
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Love at Home
I'm so excited to have our first Love At Home session scheduled for October 19, 2010.
Please join me in prioritizing your life, investing in yourself, your family and your home. Love At Home helps us to rebuild our home values by learning new skills and sharpening old one. The goal of Love At Home is to make our homes A Sanctuary of Love and A Haven of Peace. Our time spent together will be fun, invigorating and uplifting. The Lord's perfect design is for older, mature women to pass on what they have learned. Titus 2:3-5 gives us a Biblical mandate that older women are given the responsibility to train and encourage younger women so that the Word of God will not be dishonored. We will have an awesome time of fun and fellowship as we all learn and operate in God's perfect will.
Love At Home sessions are limited to seven women. You must be able to commit to attending all seven sessions, which take place once every two weeks. This is an in-home ministry so you have the opportunity to see everything you learn in operation.
If you are interested in attending, please email 1stdegreelove@gmail.com to reserve your space.
Many blessings and I look forward to sharing and fellowshiping during Love at Home.
In all you do, do it in love,
Tanya
Please join me in prioritizing your life, investing in yourself, your family and your home. Love At Home helps us to rebuild our home values by learning new skills and sharpening old one. The goal of Love At Home is to make our homes A Sanctuary of Love and A Haven of Peace. Our time spent together will be fun, invigorating and uplifting. The Lord's perfect design is for older, mature women to pass on what they have learned. Titus 2:3-5 gives us a Biblical mandate that older women are given the responsibility to train and encourage younger women so that the Word of God will not be dishonored. We will have an awesome time of fun and fellowship as we all learn and operate in God's perfect will.
Love At Home sessions are limited to seven women. You must be able to commit to attending all seven sessions, which take place once every two weeks. This is an in-home ministry so you have the opportunity to see everything you learn in operation.
If you are interested in attending, please email 1stdegreelove@gmail.com to reserve your space.
Many blessings and I look forward to sharing and fellowshiping during Love at Home.
In all you do, do it in love,
Tanya
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Marriages on the road to Damascus
As a man thinks in his heart so is he. The state of marriage is in shambles. Unfortunately many Christians are believing the worlds lies about marriage, and sadly many Christian wives are not only believing the lies, but living them out in their homes. Operating out of order, showing no honor to their husbands, manipulating their husbands, undermining his authority in the home in the presence of their children, speaking poorly of your husband to your friends, putting him down, etc. But there is hope. Lets examine the transformation of Saul to Paul.
In Acts 8:1-3 Saul persecutes the church and consents to Stephen's death. He creates havoc everywhere he goes and enters the homes of men and women dragging them off to prison for worshipping the Lord Jesus.
When a marriage isn't grounded in Christ, the couple is open to believing the world's view of how a marriage should function. Many marriages are in crisis because they have been operating with a Saul spirit (without Christ). It's easy to breath threats of ending (killing) a marriage when you never had an encounter with the true Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus.
A marriage in crisis that is blinded by its own mess, operating outside of God's will, cannot begin to be healed until its exposed to the light of God. There are critical steps the Lord uses to bring us into right relationship with Him and therefore bring our marriages into right standing with Him.
YOU MUST HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST FOR CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE
(Acts 9:3-16)
On the road to Damascus Saul has a personal encounter with Jesus. Saul is blind after the encounter.
When you have a personal encounter with Christ, you are arrested with His truth about your situation. You may be frightened by what God shows you, remorseful, ashamed, but eventually thankful.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST LEADS TO CONVERSION (Acts 9:17-18)
The Lord speaks to a man named Ananias, telling him to minister to Saul. Ananias moves at the command of God and delivers a message from the Lord. When Ananias delivers the message, scales fall off Sauls eyes and his vision is restored. Conversion allows you to see yourself for who you are, God shows you "you" - closing your eyes to the shortcomings of others, allowing you time of reflection and prayer - calling out to God for your purpose in Him. God works in you best when He has your undivided attention.
CONVERSION LEADS TO COMMITMENT TO CHRIST (Acts 9:19-22)
Saul received Christ as his savior and spent time with seasoned followers of Christ, after which he began preaching the word or God. After conversion you need the guidance of others to bring you into the place where God can use you and bring complete healing. The Lord will bring people into your life that will lead you straight to His word. When you commit to Christ, the Lord will give you wisdom and direction. He will send support that will encourage you in your walk with Him. When you're in right relationship with Christ you see things with new eyes and a renewed mind.
A marriage that is outside of God's will is persecuted from the inside out. Nothing outside has to bring trouble because a marriage without God is disfunctional to start with. The enemy doesn't have to spend any time or energy destroying something that will eventually destroy itself.
People don't change people, only an encounter with Christ changes people. But people can influence people to seek Christ, putting themselves in a position for an encounter with the one who can change your whole situation, Christ Jesus.
Ladies, your marriage can be all God wants it to be if you'll become a willing participant in His plan, purpose and will for your marriage. The Lord can change your marriage just like He changed Saul to Paul. Stand on God's word for your marriage. Pray that the Lord bring you an encourager to support you in being the best wife you can be to your husband. Trust me God will do it. He did it for me and we know He's no respecter of persons. I praise God for what He's done in me as a wife and mother. It hasn't been easy and many times its been hurtful, but I love that I have a whole, solid, Christ-filled marriage, where the marriage bed is not defiled. We'll discuss that next time:) Until then,
In all you do, do it in love,
Tanya
In Acts 8:1-3 Saul persecutes the church and consents to Stephen's death. He creates havoc everywhere he goes and enters the homes of men and women dragging them off to prison for worshipping the Lord Jesus.
When a marriage isn't grounded in Christ, the couple is open to believing the world's view of how a marriage should function. Many marriages are in crisis because they have been operating with a Saul spirit (without Christ). It's easy to breath threats of ending (killing) a marriage when you never had an encounter with the true Bridegroom, our Lord Jesus.
A marriage in crisis that is blinded by its own mess, operating outside of God's will, cannot begin to be healed until its exposed to the light of God. There are critical steps the Lord uses to bring us into right relationship with Him and therefore bring our marriages into right standing with Him.
YOU MUST HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST FOR CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE
(Acts 9:3-16)
On the road to Damascus Saul has a personal encounter with Jesus. Saul is blind after the encounter.
When you have a personal encounter with Christ, you are arrested with His truth about your situation. You may be frightened by what God shows you, remorseful, ashamed, but eventually thankful.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST LEADS TO CONVERSION (Acts 9:17-18)
The Lord speaks to a man named Ananias, telling him to minister to Saul. Ananias moves at the command of God and delivers a message from the Lord. When Ananias delivers the message, scales fall off Sauls eyes and his vision is restored. Conversion allows you to see yourself for who you are, God shows you "you" - closing your eyes to the shortcomings of others, allowing you time of reflection and prayer - calling out to God for your purpose in Him. God works in you best when He has your undivided attention.
CONVERSION LEADS TO COMMITMENT TO CHRIST (Acts 9:19-22)
Saul received Christ as his savior and spent time with seasoned followers of Christ, after which he began preaching the word or God. After conversion you need the guidance of others to bring you into the place where God can use you and bring complete healing. The Lord will bring people into your life that will lead you straight to His word. When you commit to Christ, the Lord will give you wisdom and direction. He will send support that will encourage you in your walk with Him. When you're in right relationship with Christ you see things with new eyes and a renewed mind.
A marriage that is outside of God's will is persecuted from the inside out. Nothing outside has to bring trouble because a marriage without God is disfunctional to start with. The enemy doesn't have to spend any time or energy destroying something that will eventually destroy itself.
People don't change people, only an encounter with Christ changes people. But people can influence people to seek Christ, putting themselves in a position for an encounter with the one who can change your whole situation, Christ Jesus.
Ladies, your marriage can be all God wants it to be if you'll become a willing participant in His plan, purpose and will for your marriage. The Lord can change your marriage just like He changed Saul to Paul. Stand on God's word for your marriage. Pray that the Lord bring you an encourager to support you in being the best wife you can be to your husband. Trust me God will do it. He did it for me and we know He's no respecter of persons. I praise God for what He's done in me as a wife and mother. It hasn't been easy and many times its been hurtful, but I love that I have a whole, solid, Christ-filled marriage, where the marriage bed is not defiled. We'll discuss that next time:) Until then,
In all you do, do it in love,
Tanya
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