Stop the Bleeding…

I’m so excited to share with you what God has been doing in the hearts of both my husband and I. For the past two years we’ve been working our way through a course that has been instrumental in training, and preparing us for a ministry that our church will be rolling out to our congregation this coming Sunday; and my husband will be ministering the word of God to our congregation.

Our world is FULL of hurting, lost people who are looking for the answers to their life’s questions and problems and we (the church) hold the key. Yet so often we are so ‘center’ focused on ourselves that we miss opportunities God has before us to minister to others.

This past week my heart was broken as I heard in the news about the two families (one in California, the other in Ohio) who died at the hands of their father who had recently lost his job. This man, I’m sure felt lost, alone, and hopeless, and my first thought was….”where was the church”?

God LONGS for us to be about HIS work. Doing, that which we see our Heavenly Father doing….hence, the reason we (my husband and I) are moving in this new direction.

Here is an article my husband wrote, that was sent out via our churches weekly e-letter. Our prayer is, that as people let God’s word, and his truth penetrate their hearts, they will be compelled, to come unto him….and touch the hem of his garment so they can be made whole.

As we prayerfully contemplate God’s vision for our church, part of what God is calling HighPoint to is to become a healing center for those who have experienced relational, emotional and spiritual trauma.

This coming Sunday, February 1st we will be introducing an exciting ministry that has been working behind the scenes here at HPC called NEW PATH PRAYER COUNSELING. Highpoint Church and the Minnesota District have worked to establish a safe and confidential place where those who have experienced relational, emotional and spiritual trauma can receive hope and healing through an approach to counseling that depends upon the applications of scripture, prayer and the balanced ministry of spiritual gifts.

In Mark chapter 5, verses 25-32, we read about a woman whose suffering mirrors the suffering of many BOTH within and without the church today. The woman had a traumatic condition for which there appeared to be no cure. Like many today, this woman tried every cure, program and support group possible. Yet scripture emphatically tells us that “…instead of getting better she grew worse”. But it doesn’t end there. The story goes on to say that “when she HEARD ABOUT JESUS, she came up behind Him ….and touched the hem of His garment.”

Immediately, the Bible says, she experienced FREEDOM from her suffering! Our vision for NEW PATH PRAYER COUNSELING ministry at HighPoint Church is to create a unique ministry environment where those suffering with relational, emotional or spiritual trauma can be connected with the presence of Father God by the personalized ministry of Jesus through trained counselors.

And the message of PRAYER COUNSELING is clear and hopeful: there is a spiritual ER center at HighPoint Church where you can come to receive life-changing care for your trauma in order to overcome whatever is preventing you from living a spiritually and emotionally healthy life!

Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil and to set captives free! Therefore if we are to ever experience transformation in the hurting or damaged areas of our lives, JESUS and His teachings must be a majority part of the healing. If you have past hurts or current experiences that are preventing you from living a spiritually and emotionally healthy life, you have come to the right place. If you have tried every cure imaginable but are not getting better BUT only worse, you have come to the right place. Come this Sunday with great expectation and hope! Jesus will be there and you will have an opportunity to touch the “hem of His garment”.

Praying that as you step out…and touch the hem of his garment….he WILL make you whole.

To hear this amazing song…go here!

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~*~*GoD mOmEnTs~*~*

It’s been 2 weeks since I’ve last left a post and I’m not really sure where the time has gone? Wait….maybe each day has rolled into the next between work, church, sports, and family?? Time certainly doesn’t stand still, and yet I’m finding that I really need to carve out time to just sit…..reflect…relax….and just be.

Last night was a great example of doing just that, as it was the first time (in 2009) that all 4 of us were home at the same time, for the entire evening! We were all suppose to be running in different directions…..but plans changes so we ordered pizza and stayed home! I love nights like that….everyone in their pj’s before 7pm relaxing…talking…and just enjoying each others company.

Relationships are so key….and the Lord has been challenging me this year to be “more purposeful” in looking for the “God moments” that he brings into my life so that I can see what he’s doing, and not miss opportunities.

One particular area that I’ve been noticing “God moments” is in the area of building strong relationships/friendships with Godly women! I’ve been SO blessed by many (too many to count in fact) Godly women in ‘blog-land’ who encourage me on so many levels. I enjoy the emails, the notes that arrive in my mailbox, and at time the special little gifts sent my way. I truly treasure the relationships God has been building, yet God has been speaking to me around building relationships with women I rub shoulders with on a day to day basis.

Being a leader in our church, I often find that the majority of my time is “pour-out” my life into others. I spend a great deal of time listening, counseling, praying, encouraging, uplifting, helping, hugging, crying with, or praying for those carrying heavy burdens from life situations that have left them feeling as though they are drifting out at sea with no shoreline in view. So many today are facing major “life issues” and because the journey seems to difficult to walk, they need to know someone cares, and that someone is there to help carry them on their journey when they no longer have the strength to take another step.

“Pouring-out” my life into the lives of other is something I LOVE to do! It’s how God’s wired me….and it’s how God has gifted me….as one of my gifts is that of an “encourager”. Yet, God has been challenging me to develop relationships in which it’s not all about “pouring-out” into others, but rather, friendships that allow me to be “me”…and have friendships that aren’t always centered around “someones” problem; but rather, centered around a friendship that can “pour into me” as I have someone with common interests…..the same faith walk…the same stage of life….someone I can laugh with….and soemone I can be me with! (does that make sense)

As I’ve been seeking the Lord about this, he’s brought just the right person into my life to fill that need. We have SO much in common! We’ve been involved in ministry…we’ve both been very involved in our local church….we have children close in age…..and due to our children’s ages…we SO relate to the “life issues” we each face. This friend is someone I can get together with and pick up just where we left off! Aren’t friends like that amazing??

Today, I’m going to lunch with this friend, and my heart is so encouraged to know that when we leave our lunch, I will be a better person from my time fellowshipping with her. As the word says, “Iron..sharpens iron…”…and this friend, is truly iron in my life.

My friend’s birthday is coming up, and I want to “bless” her…(see pictures below) with a few things that I’ve made! (shh..she doesn’t know I know it’s her birthday) She’s truly been a HUGE blessing to my heart and life and this is simply a SMALL token to reflect how much her friendship means to me.

~I made her this cute little card….and a matching Prayer Journal~

~I also made her a (hard cover) scrap book for her end table, or night stand~

Friends, let me challenge you today to find someone (if you already don’t have someone) to build a relationship with who can relate to the “seasons of your heart”…because relationships are SO key to our faith walk.

And Christy~ This is for you! You so inspired me the other day with your photo’s of your new decorating ideas…so I thought I’d share a photo of my “LOVE” for roosters in my kitchen! lol

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Pay-it-forward

Thanks Ladies…for those of you who have been emailing me…wondering “where in the world I’ve been”. I know it’s been 10 days since I’ve made a post…but there was a LOT of “doing nothing” over the Christmas break…and THEN…it was trying to get BACK in the swing of work after having 2 weeks off!! 🙂

Today I was SO blessed when I stopped by my friend Tracy’s blog (My Cup Runneth Over) and saw a challenge she left, regarding Pay-it-forward. What a GREAT way to bless those in our life who bless us on a daily basis.

Tracy wrote that the first 3 people who left a post would receive something (paying-it-forward) from her…and then we agreed to post this same challenge on our blog.

So I went ahead and left her a comment….and YEAH…I was the 3rd person to post a comment so now I’ll be receiving a blessing…AND…be giving away 3 blessings.

Here’s how this works…. the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment on this post will receive a hand-made item from me. Those 3 bloggers promise to post this challenge on their blog (meaning they too will ‘pay-it-forward’, creating a handmade gift for the first 3 bloggers that leave a comment on their blog!!) That’s a lot of hand-made love being passed around! ; )Here’s the part I got really excited about…the gift can be anything you choose and any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. No worries if you’re outside the U.S., I don’t mind international shipping. Are you up for it? What do you say?

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