March 2017
In This Issue
Fumbling Into God's Presence
When You Struggle to Fit In
Free Virtual Conference for Pastor's Wives
St. Patrick's Day Treat
Flying into Our Father's Arms
Fumbling Into God's Presence
by Kelly O'Dell Stanley

Many people have been hurt by religion-people who have been pushed away from church by the ones who should have been embracing them; people who were told by others that they weren't Christians or couldn't pray the way they did; people who don't know if they're qualified to pray, if they're doing it right, if God will hear them if they're not already living 100 percent for Him.

When your experiences color your perceptions of God, you may have trouble fully embracing prayer. You might have put up walls to keep from feeling inadequate or unqualified or uncomfortable.

Can I let you in on a little secret? I feel inadequate, too.

Whenever someone refers to me as an expert on prayer, I want to laugh out loud. I did write a book about prayer. It's not an illogical conclusion. But if you could see inside my mind, the speed at which my thoughts spin from one topic to the next might make you dizzy.

But maybe that's the point. Perhaps that's exactly why I'm the one who wrote this. To tell you that it's okay not to be perfect. God doesn't expect perfection, and when we do, we're setting ourselves up for failure.

      
by  Kristen Strong

I slide into the booth at Kneaders opposite Salena, excited to chat with this woman I recently met but feel like I've known for years. Over her fruit tart and my breakfast croissant, she and I meander down a long road of conversation, lingering here and there at points of interest.

She is a former Army wife and I am a former Air Force wife. As we travel through our conversation, we stop and ask each other this question:  Did you ever live in a place where you struggled to fit in?

While the locations mentioned differed, we both experienced what it was like to be placed in a community that didn't fit well. Although folks were kind, they weren't necessarily receptive to our presence.

For a long time, we were on the outside looking in, showing up at the party but not really welcomed through the front door.

For you, maybe it was something else that brings this awareness to you. Maybe you attended that conference chock-full of people who do what you do, except in your mind they all do it better... 

Need encouragement? A Challenge? Connection? And Inspiration?
Get all of this delivered straight to your phone or computer while sitting comfortably on your couch, latte in hand, wearing yoga pants beginning March 20, 2017.
The #JustONE2017 Conference is a free virtual conference for all Pastors' Wives and Women in Leadership. Over 10 days, speakers will share JustONE thing they have learned from their personal lives and leadership, focusing on Philippians 2:1-18.
You can sign up to be part of JustONE any time during 2017. You'll get a dose of #JustONE2017 goodness each day.

Looking for an easy dessert for St. Patrick's Day? L ook no further.    These St. Patrick's Day Mint M&M Cookies are perfect.    They are both chewy and chocolate-y and the Green Mini M&M's are the perfect colorful St. Patrick's Day addition to say Top 'O the Morning to your family on March 17th.


Flying into Our Father's Arms
 
By Jill Briscoe

A train was rattling along the track from one city to another. It carried a full load, and the journey was a long one. In one car the boredom was alleviated slightly by the entertainment afforded the passengers by a small child who flitted from one person to another, smiling and chattering away. She was a personable and sociable little girl, and the passengers began to wonder who her parents were. It was hard to tell, as she gave her attention to each one in turn. The passengers, however, were not left wondering for long. Suddenly the train whistled and entered a long, dark tunnel. The little girl flew across the car, straight into the arms of her father!

When trouble comes, the world needs to see us flying into our Father's arms. People are desperate for that example. We need to show them there is a place to hide when we suddenly enter the long, dark tunnel, and they need to hear from us that the arms we run to are loving ones. In our refusal to charge God with a spiteful spirit, we publicly profess our belief that God is good.

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