Just Breathe

BY JESSICA LANDMON

Life is busy. Time is short. And, our priorities are often out of order. Our days are spent completing an endless list of things that "need" to get done. And, in the middle of this craziness, we squeeze in some prayer time and Bible reading, and hope that we make it to the finish line each night. If this is you, I can tell you with certainty that you are doing it wrong. Yes, you are doing life wrong. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly, not this hectic life we have come to accept. In the middle of our busyness and good intentions, we have sacrificed peace, joy, and the abundant life God has planned for us.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. – John 10:10 (NKJV)

People hear the word abundant and immediately assume that the scriptures are referring only to material blessings. This is why many are chasing the wrong things and burning themselves out in the process. The abundant life referred to here has so much more to offer than just things and status. It is a life filled with God’s presence and counsel. It is a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. It is a life filled with laughter, gladness, and hope.

So what's the solution? How do we step away from the rat race that we all have come to accept as normal? Well, the first thing you need to do is just breathe. Actually, take a long, deep breath with me right now. Don't think about all the things you need to get done. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Meditate on God's goodness and His immeasurable love for you.

Now, ask God to reveal His heart to you and show you where you should direct you time and energy. Focus on these areas. When you partner with God and are in alignment with His vision, our tasks begin to have purpose. These tasks won't feel like burdens anymore, but rather opportunities to collaborate with the Kings of Kings.

Please understand that this isn't an excuse to shirk our responsibilities. There are things that we just need to do each and every day. But, if we were truly honest with ourselves, we would see that many of the things we stress about are things we were never meant to do. That's why we end up feeling overwhelmed and short on time.

Ladies, God doesn’t want you stressed and overwhelmed. He wants you to partner with Him so that you can accomplish your purpose. Let go of the old way of thinking, and start chasing after what God has in store for you. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. Now breathe.

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We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, October 29th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire, CT. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord.

For tickets, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701743607

God Hears Your Cry

All across the world, women in need are crying out to God. These women are undergoing severe hardships, extreme sadness, and overwhelming difficulties. To be honest, it amazes me to know that God can touch each of these lives all at the same time. But, He can. The Lord is right there in the midst of each of these situations ready and able to move. To the woman in the hospital bed who is feeling hopeless, anxious, and afraid, God sees your pain. You have been patiently waiting for a miracle, and doubt is starting to settle in. Don't give up. God does still heal today.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." – Isaiah 53:5

To the woman who feels invisible, like nothing she does matters, know that God sees you. In fact, He sees all that you do. You are precious in His sight, and He wants you to know that you are His beloved.

“You are the God who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13

To the woman whose marriage is falling apart, nothing is too difficult for our Lord. It's not over until God says it's over. He can take the most impossible situation and bring complete restoration. Just put all your trust in Him.

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Matthew 19:6

To the woman who can't make ends meet, whose bills are so far behind that there is no way out in sight, know that God is in this. You may not see it in the natural, but fortunately we serve a supernatural God. Hold on to His promises.

"But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." – Psalm 34:10

To the woman whose child has turned his back on God, know that God sees every one of your tears. He knows you are hurting, but He wants you to trust Him still. God loves your child more than you do, and although you can't see it, God is moving behind the scenes.

“‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” – Luke 15:24

And to the woman crippled with fear and anxiety, lean on Him. God wants you to rest in His peace. Allow the presence of God to permeate every inch of your soul. Let go of all the lies that the enemy has told you, and grasp hold of the truth of God.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." – 2 Timothy 1:7

Ladies, it doesn't matter how many requests are being called out to God right now – He hears them all. You matter to Him. He can bring hope like no one or no thing can. Keep your eyes on Him.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

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We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, September 24^th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:oo p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachussets. Additionally, we will be offering a second conference in Cheshire, Connecticut at The Cornerstone Church on Saturday, October 29^th. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord.

For tickets to the Springfield event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701415626

For tickets to the Cheshire event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701743607

The Deep

When my kids were five and seven years old, we put an in-the-ground swimming pool in our backyard. We waited to do so until I felt comfortable in their swimming capabilities. And although I was confident they could swim, I still took every precaution to keep them safe. We installed a pool alarm and a gate around the pool. And of course, I never left them poolside without an adult watching them. Even though I had all these precautions in place, I still felt it necessary to teach them what to do in case of an emergency.

If, by some chance, they fell into the deep end of the pool, I told them not to panic. I instructed them to roll on their backs, float, and call for help. Well, my kids are now teenagers, and I certainly don't need to worry about this anymore, but the instructions I gave them still pertain today.

You see, sometimes life throws us out into the deep. Our feet can't touch the ground and we feel helpless. Anxiety floods in, and we panic. We begin to tread water, and eventually, we grow tired and weary. At this point, we are just praying we don’t drown.

Maybe you feel like you've been tossed into the deep in this season of your life. Your finances are consuming your every thought. Or maybe, the call you received from your doctor about your latest test has left you numb. Your marriage might be unravelling right before your very eyes. Perhaps, your child is going down a path of destruction.

Don’t despair. I can tell you with first hand experience that you need not panic! You will not drown if you invite the Lord into your circumstance. Just turn to your back, float, and call on Him for help. Surprisingly, you can even find peace in the midst of the deep. In fact, it is during these “deep” moments when we can have the most remarkable encounters with our Savior.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

When we come to the end of ourselves, when there is no rescue boat or lifeguard around, when we have exhausted all other options, that is when God shows himself mighty. Hypothetical faith is great. But faith tested in the deep waters is a beautiful thing. The Spirit of God comes upon us, encourages us, and keeps us afloat. If you allow yourself, you might even begin to enjoy the beauty of the ocean knowing that God will not let you drown.

Ladies, I don’t know what you are going through today. Relief may be nowhere in sight. But, remember, we serve a Savior that can walk on water. I encourage you to call out to Jesus today, and let Him teach you how you can too.

“Your grace abounds in deepest waters,

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide.

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me,

You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.”

– Hillsong United, Oceans

Are You a Victim of Terrorism?

It truly is some scary times that we are living in. Each week, I turn on the news and hear about another cruel act of terror inflicted on innocent lives. My heart breaks for those involved, and the media coverage just plays into my emotions. The interesting thing about terrorism is that it doesn't end with the horrific act. The aftermath and fear that is perpetrates destroys the lives of people close to and removed from the situation. “Will it happen again?” and “When?” are questions that run through our minds. “Could this happen in our hometown, workplace, or school system?” These thoughts gnaw away at our peace.

The spirit behind these evildoers isn't just to harm people physically. The intent is to also perpetuate fear, leaving individuals anxious and unsettled. Make no mistake, this spirit is demonic, and we, at times, are all victims of this terror. We are in a spiritual battle. But, how do we get ourselves free from this victimization?

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. – 1 Peter 5:8

We need to be wise to our enemy’s tactics. The devil wants to rob us of our peace. That’s his plan. He wants to create feelings of dread and trepidation in our hearts. He wants to consume our thought life and inner being with worry. That is what terrorism does best. That's what the devil does best. But, rest assured, we have power over these tormenting thoughts.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

As Christians, God has given us divine power. That’s right, we have authority over our minds. The Word of God is true. So, we must actively take authority over our thoughts and emotions, and command them to come into alignment with scripture.

Jesus wants us to live in peace, free from the torment of the enemy. He wants us to rest in His loving arms, trusting in Him unconditionally. When these destructive thoughts come, we must silence them. Make a decision right now to not negotiate with a terrorist. Don’t rationalize these lies or give them any credence. Immediately reject them and ask for the Holy Spirit Comforter to overcome you. Ask Him to bring to remembrance all the promises that God has in store for you. You don't need to be a victim anymore!

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14:26-27

Get Your Shovel Out

I have lived in the country for most of my life. So you would think that by now I wouldn’t freak out every time I see a snake. But, I can’t help myself. Seeing their bodies slither on the ground or in the grass really elevates my heart rate. Now, please don’t feel bad for me. I am not some damsel in distress, incapable of protecting myself in the outdoors. When I see a snake, I don’t let fear cripple me. I quickly grab a shovel and send the snake to “meet Jesus.” But, every once in a while, a snake escapes too quickly, and I am unable to dispose of it properly. That is what happened to me just a couple of weeks ago.

This situation really leaves me uneasy. Snakes tend to stick around the same area. In fact, my son saw this same snake sunbathing on the patio a few days ago. This means that it will likely return again, but we don’t know exactly when. So now we wait, keeping the shovel close by.

Why am I sharing this story with all of you and alienating all my animal-loving readers? Simply to show you how silly it is to worry over something that might happen, especially when we have all the tools available to deal with it.

All too often in life, we allow the anticipation of something to get a hold over us. We dwell on it until it consumes us. We lose sight of our source of strength and allow anxiety to fill our hearts. The worst part about all this is that we fail to keep our spiritual tools close by. What tools are these?

The first tool we have is the word of God. We need to remember that the scriptures are as powerful in our mouth as they were in Jesus’ mouth. We can boldly speak these truths over any situation and trust that these words have power. We need not fear.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Our second tool is staying connected to God. Praying during seasons of calm will prepare us for any storm that comes our way. Prayer time with Jesus cannot be replaced with anything else. He prepares us for the battle. So as we wait, we can wait in peace knowing that He is faithful.

Our last tool is to rely on fellow believers to stand in agreement with us. They help us fight the battles that come our way. There is power in agreement.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20

The devil, like a snake, will try to catch you off guard. He enjoys watching you worry about when he will appear next. Don’t allow anxiety to cripple you. Start preparing so that you may stop him in his path. Ladies, it’s time to get your shovel out!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We hope that you will be able to join us for the "Taking Every Thought Captive" Conference on Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:oo p.m. We expect it to be a refreshing time for all women. Special Guest, Amy Carroll, from Proverbs 31 Ministries, will be speaking that day about her new book, "Breaking Up With Perfect." Tickets are $30 if purchased before August 15th and $35 after that. Go to eventbrite.com to get your ticket today.

For more information, go to http://www.womengetreal.org/event/taking-every-thought-captive-womens-conference/