Encouragement For Women

I have posted links to videos of Gianna speaking of her survival of a saline abortion 30+ years ago. I was in awe and shock while watching her speak to a group of people in Victoria, British Columbia. I have friends who have had abortions and I could only imagine in my heart and head what they would think if they viewed what I had just seen. It would not be an easy thing to watch. I did not even know that babies EVER survived any abortion procedure. I can't even begin to imagine that scene. It crushes the heart and revives it all at once. If you have experienced an abortion, I caution you before you watch these videos. If you have not received counseling for the emotions you deal with or have hidden away....this/these videos will definitely stir them. There is a wonderful christian based ministry called Healing Hearts International that helps men and women through the healing process of having an abortion. Healing Hearts International Ministries is a counseling ministry ...

Lesson One/Week One Bitter, as Webster’s Dictionary puts it is and adjective meaning 1. having a sharp, unpleasant taste 2. causing or showing sorrow, pain, etc. 3. sharp and disagreeable; harsh 4. resentful; cynical. Bitterly is an adverb and bitterness is a noun. Bitterness is a state of being bitter. None of us want to continue to be in that state or dip our toes “into that pond”. This week we are going to explore some scriptures on the topic, read some thoughts by others and pray, pray, pray! This is not what I want my epitaph to say, “Elizabeth was a bitter woman who bitterly responded to otheres and found herself drowning in bitterness.” I would prefer that it said, “Elizabeth was a forgiven woman who mercifully granted forgiveness and found herself thanking God for His forgiveness towards her.” I image you wouldn’t want others to remember you as bitter or to think of you now as bitter. Or if you know someone who is deep in this state, you want to lovingly enco...

Bitterness & Forgiveness Bible Study What you will need to do this study: A willing heart to be open to how God will change your heart through this study A Bible or online Bible Notebook and a pen, or you can save to your desktop via word doc. A trusted friend. This can be someone you can actually talk to face to face, via the phone, through letters, or via online chat. This person can help you with memory verses, be there to discuss what you are going through as you do this study. This person does not have to do the study, but must be someone you trust to share the intimate details of your life with. If you are new to an area and do not have someone to fit this description...consider finding a women at your church who serves in a ministry role whom you could form this relationship with. Lessons one - four will focus on Bitterness…We will spend four weeks reading, listening, learning, praying and discussing while confronting bitterness. Bitterness may be something y...

Lord..."Send a remarkable awakening that results in hundreds of people coming to Christ, old animosities being removed, marriages being reconciled and renewed, wayward children coming home, long-standing slavery to sin being conquered, spiritual dullness being replaced by vibrant joy, weak faith being replaced by bold witness, disinterest in prayer being replaced by fervent intercession, boring Bible reading being replaced by passion for the Word, disinterest in global missions being replaced by energy for Christ’s name among the nations, and lukewarm worship being replaced by zeal for the greatness of God’s glory." from Pastor John Piper's 4/25/10 message to his church I want this to be my heart's prayer, my desire for God to be glorified in all these ways. May we be filled with zeal for the greatness of God's glory! Please pray something like this during the summer and every season for that matter...but for now - this summer. In Christ, Elizabeth

Our family recently welcomed our third child, a girl, named Karisa Hope. The Lord, in His amazing mercy to me chose to make her an “easy” child. She is very mellow, sleeps mostly through the night and is very content to sit in her bouncy seat and take life in. She rarely ever cries for anything other than the usuals-hunger, diaper change or discomfort. There are times, however, when she is uncomfortable and deals with a bit of colic in the evenings. A good friend told me about gripe water, something I had never heard of, and this is my third child. Gripe water is made of ginger and fennel and helps to soothe upset stomachs….and it works wonders when Karisa’s colic is present. While my mom was visiting she made a comment about the amusing name of “gripe water.” I joked back that it was too bad the children of Israel didn’t have any when they were wandering and complaining….and then the Lord reminded me that I do a fair share of complaining myself. I realized that His Word is my ...

A salutation as defined by Merriam-Webster is: an expression of greeting, goodwill, or courtesy by word, gesture, or ceremony... Have you ever noticed however that we use a few greetings/salutations that are neither of goodwill or otherwise? Such as, "How are you?" or "How are you doing?" This used to be a question of which a genuine response was expected. However, now it is used as a greeting and salutation with an expected scripted response. How are you? How are you doing? We begin letters and emails this way too. When used in a letter or email there is more time for the responder to elaborate. Either the responder chooses to give a surface level answer or one that shows the reality of one's disposition. When used as a verbal salutation however, one doesn't usually expect an out-of-the-ordinary response. Those ordinary responses are usually; "fine, great, okay, can't complain" or the like and is also immediately followed up with t...

Here I stand at the sink doing a mighty load of dishes. Our dishwasher racks are being repaired and doing every dish, pan and utensil by hand really makes me appreciate how easy I have it compared to those women of yonder years. Though I cannot say the work was done without sighing and moaning and some good old complaining to myself. I also do not have Palmolive hands. Nay dry, cracked, winter hands. Yesterday during church I just could not focus on what my Pastor was saying. My mind was adrift. I was swirling into another one of my "oh no, it just seems all too hopeless" life moments. The reality of life, a struggling marriage and the stress and responsibility of home schooling was seriously pressing down on me. I just totally felt hopeless, right there in church. My ears were perked when I heard my Pastor say, "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present." As I clued in and listened he went on about a book titled "Unfinishe...