Encouragement | Hope | Women | Living Today

Encouragement Hope Women Living Today

Going Down a Rabbit Trail or Three

by 30 Comments

Let's Take a Rabbit Trail or 3

Rabbit Trail 1

There was a lot of buzz on the Facebook airwaves yesterday about women in ministry, purpose, platform, and 99 etcetera’s. I found it fruitful and thought-provoking especially due to a message I heard (online) from Liberty University’s all-female convocation speaker, Melanie Denney. I think Melanie is a senior and a student shepherd. I KNOW she is anointed to preach the gospel because she brought the house down with some of the most in-your-face biblical truths I’ve heard in a very long time. She reminded me of a young, on-fire Joyce Meyer. Melanie, spoke TRUTH, plain and simple.

You want more intimacy with Christ? Plan for it. Make it happen. Turn off the distractions and get into His Word, His presence, and wait. He is there.

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Turn off the distractions. Get into His Word. Invite Him into your presence and wait. He will speak.

Do you want to be the recipient of God’s blessings? Surrender. Give in. Lay it down. Be obedient to what He tells you to do, even when it feels awkward and uncomfortable.

Ms. Denney also spoke on Holy Spirit – He is real and available. Don’t be afraid of the Holy Spirit! Bravo! Melanie Denney! Bravo!

__________________

Rabbit Trail 2

Then, in the afternoon, a FB group friend posted a question:

Is there room for women who know their gifts? Who want to work hard to put themselves in positions to share those gifts, and intentionally pursue what we were made to do? Why do we feel like we need to minimize and downplay our desire to serve in areas where we can make a real impact, especially if those areas involve being in the spotlight rather than safely behind the scenes where women are “supposed” to operate? Why does it feel calculating and selfish to put ourselves out there intentionally?

I made several pro-women-in-ministry comments and then this morning I thought about Anne Graham Lotz.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61.1-3

Anne, a woman. A wife (widow). A Mom. A Grandma. An anointed woman of the most High God because the Lord appointed her to preach. To heal. To proclaim. To comfort. To console. To give. Why? So God Himself will be glorified.

___________________

Rabbit Trail 3

Today, a writer friend’s book is unveiled to the world. It’s All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee. Mrs. Lee is a former news journalist who saw her future in the big city and a newsroom; however, today, she looks out the window of her rural Iowa home upon acres and acres of land, which her husband farms. Her two daughters, now teens, used to climb a yellow school bus and attend a rural country school.

The new book is her story how she, the proverbial “control freak,” realized it is in the relinquishing of control to her faithful heavenly Father that true peace and joy can flood one’s soul.

This morning (Tuesday) as I type these words I see the common denominator. Do you?

SO GOD HIMSELF WILL BE GLORIFIED.

Today, I am going to check my motives. I will ask the hard questions. I will look to see what distractions I need to get rid of. And, lastly, I will double-check my control issues.

Join me?

Come join me as I go down a few rabbit trails. Distractions. Intentionality. Control. A few minor issues! #bgbg2

Click To Tweet

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I love this. I wonder if I struggle with intentionality because we are surrounded by instantaneous replies, likes, responses. Quick answers to searched questions. We fall into patterns and so “to sit with something” and let it develop requires a change in habits.

    Thanks for this!

    Reply

  3. This was a fun walk on the rabbit trails.
    There was a time when we had four pet rabbits. Adorable creatures.

    And I’ve been pondering the women in ministry question as well, and thinking that I’m late to the party with Jennifer’s book. So many books, so little time.
    Blessings to you, friend!

    Reply

  4. Rabbit trails are good, right??? I did end up listening to part of the Liberty University sneaker, Melanie Denney yesterday. I was blown away. She is anointed.

    I love Jennifer’s book. She has such a gift for drawing the reader in with her storytelling.

    Reply

  5. Wow, such powerful words this morning. I better have another cuppa coffee! Surrender, checking motives, distractions….such truth. Thanks Susan!

    Reply

  8. I like your rabbit trails. They give a lot of food for thought. And as always, you give good advice. We all need to check our motives and ask the hard questions. Nothing is too hard for God. We must seek Him for answers, spend time in His word and in prayer. He will help us glorify Him. 🙂 Blessings to you, dear Susan! xo

    Reply

  10. Loved the rabbit trails this morning. Someone said once that as we age we get into our “comfort zone” where we feel most comfortable and don’t want to venture out of. Maybe it is time to “get out of that zone” with less distractions from the outside world and read more of God’s word.

    Reply

  11. Those rabbit trails get me in the worst ways sometimes! I’m praying for AGL in her most recent trial. And then, all the yesses on Jennifer Dukes Lee’s newest book. I’m on the launch team as well and this book helped me see places I still hold onto when I’ve said I’m giving 100% to God.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.