My Dear Sister

If Christ is Your Savior
You are the dwelling place
Of His own Spirit
You have it IN YOU
to be secure.

Every day of your life
You have a choice to make
You can live in your old defeat
Or you can turn from your unbelief
And choose life

Make up your mind
To put off the old you
And put on the new you.
Never, ever, ever forget
That the Lord is your security.

He will keep your foot
From being caught in a trap.
He will take care of you
To your very last breath.

Now, leave this place
And go out into the world
And act like a person
Who knows she’s dearly loved.

You were born to be exceptional.
So, Girlfriend, go forth
And walk worthy of your calling.
You are clothed in strength and dignity!

Now unto Him
Who can keep you from falling
Be glory and majesty
Power and authority
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Now and forever more
Amen.

So Long, Insecurity!

~from Beth Moore

My Father in Heaven,

I thank You for this day to give You praise.
I thank You for a life where nothing is wasted,
a life where pain turns into purpose and Your providence assigns a personal destiny.
You will never allow anything in my path that cannot bring You glory,
or me and those around me good.
No matter what this day holds,
I am clothed with strength and dignity.
I have divine strength to overcome every obstacle and all oppression because I belong to Jesus Christ, and His Spirit lives within me.
You, Lord, are my security.
No one and nothing can take You from me.
You will keep my foot from being caught in a trap.
I choose to turn my back on fear because You are right here with me.
I can smile over the days to come because Your plan for me is good and right.
My heart is steadfast, trusting in You, Lord.
In the end, I will look in triumph on my foes.
Because of You,
I, _______________________________, am secure.

In Jesus' triumphant name,
Amen

~Taken from "So Long Insecurity," by Beth Moore, page 346.

Hello sweet friends! I want to apologize for the long delay in writing. For the past week and a half my life has been in a crazy whirlwind. Two weeks ago, this Friday, I received a phone call from my Dad. He told me that my sweet Momma had been in an accident and she had broken her right leg. She was minutes away from surgery. They were out of state at the time, so I immediately got in the car and headed their way. I have been caring for my Mom and without internet access for this time. I snuck away for a bit this afternoon, so that I could touch base with my blogging buddies! :)

I didn't want to end our book study without finishing my reading and answering my last two questions. I hope that you have had time to finish your reading and are able to attend a simulcast event this upcoming weekend. It is looking like I am not going to be able to attend the event. I am so disappointed. I continue to pray for Beth Moore, her team and the Mt. Sterling First Church of God as they prepare for this amazing weekend. I know that God is going to do an awesome work in the lives of many women!!

Okay, so here are my answers to our final questions. . .

1) On a scale of 1-10, I would say that fear has unfortunately had a hold on me at about a 7 or 8. (sometimes less and sometimes more!) This is something that I have always struggled with, on some level, and the last 2 1/2 years, it has reared its ugly head. Chapter 17 was very eye opening and the part that resonated with me the most was to "Trust God! Period." I love the words of Isaiah 33:6, "HE is your constant source of stability." (NET). Lord, help me to trust YOU, no matter what the situation or fear. Help me to lean not on my own understanding. Help me to seek YOUR will and allow YOU to show me which path to take. Help me to have a secure heart, trusting completely in YOU! I love you Lord! Amen.

2) This has been the most amazing journey! I am so thankful that once again, Beth has been obedient to the Holy Spirit and allowed the Lord to use her in such a mighty way. God has opened my eyes so much over the past ten weeks. This book study has changed me. I am striving to live each day secure in Christ! I know that my security comes from Him. I know that I am clothed with strength and dignity and no one can take that from me. My heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Each day, I am clinging to His Word and His truths! I am changing the way I think and reminding myself daily of the mighty God that I serve. My life is in His hands. "The Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap." (Proverbs 3:26 ~ NLT) PRAISE GOD!!

I just want to say thank you to all who have done this book study with me. Thank you also to all who have read along, prayed and given me support and encouragement. I praise Jesus for each of you. I pray that you trust in Him! I pray that you hold on to your security and know that no one can take it from you. Let's make a decision to live as secure women of God and be examples to young women, showing them what security looks like. I love, love, love each of you!!

Praising God for His Security,
Elisabeth

I cannot believe that this time has already come to an end. We will wrap up our "So Long Insecurity" book study this week. I know that the LORD has spoken in mighty ways throughout this study and I pray that you have received many blessings. I also pray that you are walking securely in Him with your heads held high for His glory! I am posting what Beth Moore posted on her site this morning and will look forward to hearing from you this next week.

Beth wrote:

"It’s time for us to finish up! I am so grateful for your partnership through this journey. You were such a big part of the inspiration to write it (not because you’re insecure or anything… but because I knew I’d have a little company if I went public). When it came out, reading it together seemed only fitting. Thank you for your willingness to enter in."

This week’s assignment? Finish this baby up! Please read Chapters 17 and 18 and answer the following questions:

1. Based on Chapter 17, on a scale of 1 to 10 (one-almost none, ten-over the top), how big a part has fear played in your life? After responding with your approximation, please share what, if anything, in the chapter resonated with you.

2. Reflect over the journey as a whole. What (again, if anything) lasting and of God will you take away from it?

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ladies. You are a great joy to me. May the God of peace sanctify us through and through – spirit, soul, and body – until we are wholly overtaken by Him. (1 Thess. 5:23) This alone will be the essence of wholeness."

And I want to thank you too, for doing this study with me! You are such a blessing to me and I love knowing that I have sisters in Christ all over, in different stages of life, going through this journey with me. God is so good and I praise Him for each of you!! Let's continue to cling to Jesus and finish strong! :)

I love you,
Elisabeth

Greetings my sweet girlfriends! I hope and pray that you are having a blessed spring day! I am anticipating great things!! I thought I would post my answers to this week's questions. I truly hope that you are continuing to read. Even if you are behind, continue on at your own pace. I want you to live life victoriously and abundantly secure through Jesus Christ!!

I had the blessed opportunity to skype with some dear friends this morning and it reminded me of just how blessed I am with some precious friendships in Jesus. God is so good! I love how He places people in our paths throughout our life at just the right time! His timing is perfect. Sorry, I know that I am getting off the subject, but I just wanted to share this with you because it led me to answer the first question of my homework.

Here are my answers:

1) I do not have any daughters, but the Lord has blessed me with some special young girls that He placed in my life. One sweet girl is very dear to me. I feel as though I have helped raise her and I love her as if she was my own daughter. She is the daughter of a very dear friend & I have been in her life since the time she was born. They have lived with us for short times on two separate occasions, so needless to say, we are close. Then, a year ago next month, the Lord placed another baby girl into my life! My brother & his wife had the first baby girl in our family and I love her dearly. God has graciously allowed us to be near them this past 9 months and I have grown attached to her & love her so very much. I want to be a godly example for these two little girls and I want them to know Christ and live their lives for Him. I don't want them to struggle with insecurity, but know that their security comes from Him.

One of my greatest memories in ministry was having the wonderful opportunity to baptize a young girl. I had prayed with her as she asked Jesus into her heart & she wanted me to be the one to baptize her. (so sweet!) Nothing could have prepared me for what I felt that day. As we entered into the baptistry, her with her princess crown on & all, the Holy Spirit flooded my soul! I thought that day . . . "Even though I never had a daughter, the LORD has given me many spiritual daughters to be an example before them!" It is my heart's desire to leave a legacy of faith to all those that I have come in contact with. I want them to see Jesus in me and I want them to know Christ and the abundant life that only He can give. I desire to live abundantly and effectively for my Lord!

2) I believe that the best way to look out for my female gender & the battle of insecurity is to start living victoriously over this issue myself! I love the passage in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 that says, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." ~ "But I have this treasure!" I want to live my life in a way that radiates the glory of God! Jesus Christ lives in me & I have no reason to be insecure. . . my security comes from Him!!

3) My passion is women's ministry. I love seeing women of all ages "get it!" I love seeing them come into a relationship with Jesus Christ and watch as they grow in Him. I love seeing those moments when God's Word becomes alive and active in them and it is like a light bulb comes on . . . they get what the Lord is saying to them. It brings joy to my heart and fills me with such a sense of excitement and fulfillment. My heart also beats wildly for young pastor's wives. Being a pastor's wife myself, I have been through many trials and valleys, as well as, on many mountaintops. I know what it is like to feel as though you have no one to turn to. I know what it's like to feel as though you have to be "perfect." I feel an obligation to be a mentor to other young pastor's wives who may feel as though they have no idea what they have gotten themselves into. I don't feel obligated in a bad way. I feel honored to be able to come alongside other pastor's wives and to be able to listen, pray and encourage their hearts. This is something that I have become more passionate about over the past 2 1/2 years. I hope that the Lord gives me opportunity to be poured out for His glory. I love Jesus and I love serving others through Him!

It has been such an honor to be able to share with each of you throughout this journey. I hope and pray that you are also being blessed along the way and learning so much as the Lord leads each of you. I look forward to our last week of reading together. Remember as you study this week (and as you get ready each morning) to say to yourself, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!" (Psalm 84:1)

I love you girls!
Elisabeth

Happy Maundy Thursday Sweet Ones! I wanted to get our assignment for this next week posted before the day was over. We will only have two more discussion weeks and there are five chapters left to read in So Long Insecurity. We will read three chapters this week and two next week per Beth's instructions.

Also, if anyone is interested in attending the live Beth Moore simulcast with me, please let me know. I will be attending at the First Church of God in Mt. Sterling, KY on April 24, 2010. You can check Living Proof Ministries website to see a number of host churches who are taking part in the simulcast and find one in your area. I highly encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity. You will be forever changed!

Here is our assignment for this week:

Read Chapters 14, 15 & 16 and answer the following questions:
1) As you surely noticed, Chapter 14 is more of a testimony than a teaching but it concludes with a charge to deal with our female insecurities for the sake of young girls coming up behind us. Briefly describe someone who is worth doing what it takes to you to live abundantly and effectively in Christ. Help us picture her so that she inspires us, too. Needless to say, don’t share more than she’d want you to.

2) I wish we could discuss all of Chapter 15 in person but this is the next best thing. Name a couple of ways pertinent to your sphere of life and influence that you could look out for your own gender in our battle with insecurities. In other words, how can you (not others but you in particular) start becoming part of the solution in your female relationships rather than default into part of the problem. No condemnation here. Goodness knows, we’ve all been both. Our challenge is to learn to be deliberate. How are you prepared to do that?

3) I can’t wait to see your answers to this one. Based on Chapter 16 and the challenge to look past ourselves, what is your passion? If you don’t have one presently, don’t feel pressured or unnerved. You might be too deep in toddlers or school work to think past the urgent. Those things are priority and need to be your passion right now. If, however, you long for something that makes you feel fully alive and part of something specific God is doing for the greater good, ask Him to nurture that vision in you. It will be ultimately be the key to life on the outskirts of self-absorption. Keep in mind, your passion may not be anything you’re currently engaged in. Maybe you don’t have the opportunity to participate right now. Maybe it’s just in dream-form. Or maybe it’s just a place God has tendered your heart. Try to give it a name. What is something outside of yourself that you feel passionate about?

Have a blessed Easter weekend and celebrate our risen Savior! Enjoy this wonderful time with your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers!

Blessings,
Elisabeth