What an amazing morning we had! Today was the much anticipated day when a team from Covenant Fellowship church in Philadelphia came to pray for, prophesy over, and encourage all the PC couples!
I went into the morning not really sure what to expect, but was absolutely blown away by how the Lord showed up and ministered to all of us in powerful ways! To hear specific words being spoken over friends was so amazing...and so accurate! And then to have several members of the team pull Rob and I aside and encourage us, prophesy over us, and pray for us was like nothing else I've experienced! We were so humbled, encouraged, refreshed and edified by all that was spoken and all that we heard! This day will not soon be forgotten by any of us! Rob and I can't wait to sit down together on our next date and read over and evaluate the notes taken for us of the words spoken over us! I am more convinced than ever, that the gift of prophesy is alive and well today in God's church...all he is looking for are eager, humble, and willing servants!
Thank you Lord, for sending your Holy Spirit into our midst today and refreshing our souls through your servants and your presence! The more I learn of you and experience you, the more of you I want! May that hunger never by quenched! All praise and glory to you!
Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts
Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday, September 7, 2007
First Ladies' Meeting with Carolyn Mahaney!
Last night was the PC student's and their wives first monthly meeting with the Mahaney's! It had been scheduled to be a couples meeting, but CJ decided to change it at the last minute. He said the ladies would benefit more from being with just Carolyn. And we did benefit greatly from her right from the start! What a treat!
She began with her testimony which included her childhood/youth years, her conversion, meeting CJ, and then their early years of marriage and motherhood. I was greatly impacted by God's grace in her life in those early years of marriage and motherhood. She didn't have an older woman to turn to for wisdom and advice so she devoured any books she could find that would serve her. In her telling of this struggle and desire, I was struck by God's grace and kindness towards me to have supplied older women and numerous books to help, serve, and walk along side me. What a gift and mercy of the Lord! I was also slightly convicted that I don't tap into these sources of grace enough! I don't read enough! I don't ask questions or for help enough! By God's grace I will humble myself and do this more!
Another truth that is echoing in my heart today as I reflect on all Carolyn said is this, "The best way we can serve the church begins in our home." Wow! How simple and yet convicting. I confess that I have not seen it that way. I have complained in my heart, and at times, aloud, about being without Rob when he has been serving (and now learning!), or about caring for and disciplining the children more without him, than with him. Carolyn freshly reminded us, that our pastor husbands, in this regard, are not ours. It should be a privilege to release him for service to the body of Christ! I pray that in this season and time at the PC, the Lord will do a real work and change in my heart to view my circumstances with fresh faith and joy!
I could go on and on, but I will end on that note. And to all you guys out there, I will try to have Rob add a post about the men's time with CJ! Love you all!
She began with her testimony which included her childhood/youth years, her conversion, meeting CJ, and then their early years of marriage and motherhood. I was greatly impacted by God's grace in her life in those early years of marriage and motherhood. She didn't have an older woman to turn to for wisdom and advice so she devoured any books she could find that would serve her. In her telling of this struggle and desire, I was struck by God's grace and kindness towards me to have supplied older women and numerous books to help, serve, and walk along side me. What a gift and mercy of the Lord! I was also slightly convicted that I don't tap into these sources of grace enough! I don't read enough! I don't ask questions or for help enough! By God's grace I will humble myself and do this more!
Another truth that is echoing in my heart today as I reflect on all Carolyn said is this, "The best way we can serve the church begins in our home." Wow! How simple and yet convicting. I confess that I have not seen it that way. I have complained in my heart, and at times, aloud, about being without Rob when he has been serving (and now learning!), or about caring for and disciplining the children more without him, than with him. Carolyn freshly reminded us, that our pastor husbands, in this regard, are not ours. It should be a privilege to release him for service to the body of Christ! I pray that in this season and time at the PC, the Lord will do a real work and change in my heart to view my circumstances with fresh faith and joy!
I could go on and on, but I will end on that note. And to all you guys out there, I will try to have Rob add a post about the men's time with CJ! Love you all!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Labor Day Weekend (so far)!
Well, Saturday was a whirlwind of activity! That morning I had a ladies' meeting at the Ricucci's home, while Rob took the boy's to the park to meet Toby Kurth and his boys to enjoy donuts and let the kids run and play. In the afternoon, Rob and Curtis Allen (another PC student) spent some time with a few kids in our apartment complex who wanted to know more about Christ! They reported that it was a very fruitful time and they plan to do it again! Then in the evening we enjoyed dinner with another PC couple (Amber and Steve!)...chicken enchiladas that they prepared and brought over, followed by a fun time of getting to know each other and sharing our "stories"!
The highlight of the day for me, though, was definitely the monthly ladies's meeting. It was wonderful! We enjoyed sweet fellowship, a short getting to know each other activity, and then a time of teaching/encouragement from Betsy. She really emplored us to postion our hearts toward the Saviour and spiritual growth in three particular ways at the start of this year: faith, humility, and anticipation. The first was faith - because of who God is.
"God does not love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us." (John Stott-The Cross of Christ)
"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." I Thess. 5:24
The second was humility-because of who we are. Betsy shared a quote from Jerry Bridges (Transforming Grace) "...in ourselves we are weak, unworthy, and inadequate. We really are. We are not deniatgrating ourselves when we recognize this truth. We are simply acknowledging reality and opening ourselves to the grace of God....to those who genuinely acknowledge they are weak, unworthy, and inadequate, God does promise to give grace." How true! I was freshly reminded that is is all "from him, and through him, and to him". (Rom.11:36) She also presented us with the thought that our need for God should be conscious and continuous. We should be very aware of our need for the Lord and that need will and should never stop! Even when we think we've got it all under control, it's just a facade...He's really the one in control and we need his help!
And the last way to postition our hearts toward the Saviour and growth is through anticipation- because God is always at work. Once we become truly aware that he is working and start looking for it, we will see Him everywhere! We should also be filled with gratitude, joy and amazement that we get to participate in what he's doing! What a kindness!
Overall is was a very refreshing and encouraging time! It really helped me to view this year with fresher anticipation and hope to experience all God has for us here, and to truly be clay in the potter's hands! All glory to God!
The highlight of the day for me, though, was definitely the monthly ladies's meeting. It was wonderful! We enjoyed sweet fellowship, a short getting to know each other activity, and then a time of teaching/encouragement from Betsy. She really emplored us to postion our hearts toward the Saviour and spiritual growth in three particular ways at the start of this year: faith, humility, and anticipation. The first was faith - because of who God is.
"God does not love us because Christ died for us; Christ died for us because God loved us." (John Stott-The Cross of Christ)
"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." I Thess. 5:24
The second was humility-because of who we are. Betsy shared a quote from Jerry Bridges (Transforming Grace) "...in ourselves we are weak, unworthy, and inadequate. We really are. We are not deniatgrating ourselves when we recognize this truth. We are simply acknowledging reality and opening ourselves to the grace of God....to those who genuinely acknowledge they are weak, unworthy, and inadequate, God does promise to give grace." How true! I was freshly reminded that is is all "from him, and through him, and to him". (Rom.11:36) She also presented us with the thought that our need for God should be conscious and continuous. We should be very aware of our need for the Lord and that need will and should never stop! Even when we think we've got it all under control, it's just a facade...He's really the one in control and we need his help!
And the last way to postition our hearts toward the Saviour and growth is through anticipation- because God is always at work. Once we become truly aware that he is working and start looking for it, we will see Him everywhere! We should also be filled with gratitude, joy and amazement that we get to participate in what he's doing! What a kindness!
Overall is was a very refreshing and encouraging time! It really helped me to view this year with fresher anticipation and hope to experience all God has for us here, and to truly be clay in the potter's hands! All glory to God!
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