The Seasons of Life

Are you going through a season of life that you did not anticipate?

I did two years ago. Did not see that coming I tell you. You're walking along in your life and turn a corner and BAM! Or maybe it was a gradual realization that your life had take a turn. Did you look in the mirror one day and wonder how in the world you got so far off track from where you'd thought you'd be right now in your life?

Paul experienced an unfamiliar season in his life (Acts 27-28). He was on his way to Italy traveling in an Alexandrian ship. Luke was with him. So was a Roman Centurion! But, in the middle of this trip a hurricane shipwrecked them on an island called Malta. An unfamiliar place, unfamiliar people, an unfamiliar season in Paul's life. He ended up spending the entire winter on the island of Malta.

Are you thrust into an unexpected season?

Instead of Paul focusing on himself wondering why he was stuck in this foreign place and questioning his misfortune, he looked at this season in his life as an opportunity. He knew the Lord had a plan. (By the way, the Lord never has a Plan B). Paul accepted and embraced this season. And, because of this, Paul experienced opportunities for ministry and the restoration of provision.

Here what happened:
*Paul experienced unusual favor
*Paul experiencced unusual miracles
*Paul experienced unusual provision
(You have to read Chapter 28 to get "the rest of the story")

Are you in an unfamiliar season of life? Are you in a place where you never thought you'd be? Do you trust that the Lord is in control of your life? Then, you have to believe this unfamiliar season you are in right now is within God's control. Ask Him what you are supposed to do. Ask Him to open your eyes. Ask Him to help you look outward instead of inward. Seek Him and he will show you unusual favor, unusual miracles and unusual provision.

Go ahead...I dare you.

Are You on Your List?

What list? The one that has your spouse, your kids, your grandchildren, your work, your career, your housework, your church, your friends….all those things that you work hard at every day to love, nurture and keep “running smoothly.” Well, are you on your list? We ladies seem to forget and purposely neglect to take care of ourselves and nurture ourselves…to give ourselves rest and renewal…physically, mentally and spiritually.

Jamee and I had a long wonderful weekend basking in the Spirit and trying really hard to just listen. We feel very strongly that the Lord is leading us to focus on this subject this year.

Remember at last year’s Summit we touched a little bit on this? Jamee and I will carry on praying that the Holy Spirit will continue to confirm this topic in our hearts and lead us to plan sessions according to His will. We ask that you do the same.

We are lead to use the following Scripture for the weekend:

Isaiah 30: 15-18
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not,

And you said, No! We will speed [our own course] on horses! Therefore you will speed [in flight from your enemies]! You said, We will ride upon swift steeds [doing our own way]! Therefore will they who pursue you be swift, [so swift that]
One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!