all things guests

Guest Post – Manda Fortin

September 24, 2010 By Mary Hess

A Time To Fight the Lies

“I’m plain. No one even sees me. I go unnoticed.”

“I’m such a whale. I need to loose weight. I’m fat and ugly. Disgusting.”

“I’ll never be good enough. No one would love me if they truly knew me or my past.”

“I’m such an airhead, scatterbrain, unorganized mess. No one can count on me.”

When did such statements become the norm?

The words well up but don’t always escape our lips. However, it doesn’t discount the truth that they are there. Just below the surface of skin, pours, and false smiles.

You know the ones.

Hidden in the heart. Twisting our thoughts to believe lies.

Keeping us prisoned from freedom. Chaining us from unfolding and experiencing God’s truth.

I’m not sure when it became okay in our social circles or even behind the closed doors of our minds to trash-talk ourselves. We belittle who we are and how we were created.
It’s one thing to know we aren’t perfect and to walk in humility, it’s completely different to degrade God’s creation.

We all have short-comings and battles we face, and the war ground is in our hearts and minds.

When God is building His children into warriors, our self-depreciating habits can be artillery the enemy uses to keep us distracted and defeated. Holding us back from moving forward in victory.

But today, I want you to know…

You are special. One-of-a-kind. God always sees you and He delights.

You were formed by the hands that placed stars in the sky. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, an image bearer of Christ.

Jesus is your author and perfecter. He stands in your defense. You are now the righteousness of God.

God has given you all you need. You can do all things.

So…

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~ Romans 12:2a

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Manda loves Jesus. A lot. And I’m thankful that I can truly call her friend. Her desire to be so head over heels in love for Jesus is inspiring. Her transparency is life-changing. Once you get to know her, you’ll love her too – I do! Thanks, Manda for being here today. I love you bunches!

Follow her at her blog or on Twitter!

Manda is passionate for women to walk in their God-given beauty and freedom in Christ. Through women’s ministry and mentorship, she walks alongside helping others see that there is healing for all wounds in the hands of our Redeemer. Well aware that sanctification is a life long process, she walks daily by the grace of God. Knowing this is an undeserved gift that is absolutely priceless.

This 30 year old, fun-loving Jesus chick, married her husband at just 19 years old. She is the mother to two daughters, Anna (10) and Paige (7), who blogs daily about her own imperfections, personal struggles, faith, and victories at THERE IS A TIME…

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Guest Post – Prudence Landis

September 23, 2010 By Mary Hess

The One

As I write this I’m currently at about 10,000 feet and jetting through blue skies and across chocolate milk colored terra firma & green patch work quilts. My desk is a seat tray and a small cup of Diet Coke rests in a cradle designed specifically for small cups.

Shawn and I spent the last 48 hours with friends, celebrating the grand opening of their church.

I got to be a small part of this exciting weekend. On Saturday night we handed out free bottles of water and fliers inviting people to come.

The next day, I watched as over 300 people filled a middle school auditorium to worship Jesus and hear the inspiring news of salvation.

As part of their grand opening they did a campaign. For everyone that came, the church would donate 10 years of clean, safe drinking water to someone over seas. The great news is that they had so many people, they are building a well!!!
No donations, other than the standard Sunday offering, were taken. The only thing the people had to do is show up, and in showing up they heard the Gospel.
On Saturday in talking with my girlfriend, she was sharing about a situation she didn’t want to be involved in, but she reminded herself of the one. The one that would come, would hear, and would put their faith in Jesus.
Many people came simply because of the humanitarian aspect of what the church was doing. And yet, they still heard. And maybe one (or more) of them was the one. Jesus went to Samaria for one. An outcast, slutty woman. By going to Samaria for her, the Bible says that many more in her village were saved.
Even if their grand opening service, all of the months planning & preparing, the stresses, and the handing out of hundreds of bottles of water, fliers, dvds, flowers was for ONE person to be saved than all of it was worth it.

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I love me some Prudy!

) Her heart for those in need is amazing. I have been blessed many times over reading her posts and allowing God to speak to me through her words. You are simply wonderful, my friend! Love you and thanks for posting!

Follow Prudy on her blog and on Twitter!

About Prudence:
I am a wife of 9 1/2 years. I grew up in church, but it wasn’t until recently that I began to understand what it means to be a Christian. God is slowly revamping my heart and mind to be like His. I long to see those who are in poverty rescued. This is one area my heart absolutely weeps for.

What others are saying Filed Under: all things guests

Guest Post – Amber Banks

September 22, 2010 By Mary Hess

So why are you still waiting?

I had been waiting in that room for so long.

Wondering if I could ever be good enough. Evaluating if I could ever be smart enough.

Smart enough? Those words always made me cringe. Because being smart enough meant that I had to have been to college at some point. How could I lead people to something that I had never been “taught” how to do?

That’s what people expect, right? A certificate that says you have the right to tell them what you’re saying has any value? Well, I didn’t have any of that. So, how could I be…

A lead pastor’s wife?

Not just any lead pastor’s wife. Oh, no. God was calling me to something much more difficult than that. He was calling me to be a church planting lead pastor’s wife. And it doesn’t stop there! He was also calling me to be a church planting lead pastor’s wife who is very involved.

These are all things that I love. Being married to my husband. Being a pastor’s wife. Being a leader. Being involved in the church. Starting something from scratch. Seeing changed lives through a move of God.

But I stayed in the waiting room. There was something so terrifying about failing God’s purpose for my life, because what if I hadn’t prepared myself enough by sitting underneath another man or woman who could tell me everything I need to know for ministry and leading people….

That’s a silly statement. Yet, it still haunted me.

Until, God spoke, that is. Ephesians 1:21-23.

²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

That scripture spoke deep. Real deep.

Christ is above all things for the benefit of the church. Not the authorities or great leaders in this world. There isn’t a single person who can teach me what Christ has already given me to prepare me for His purpose in my life.

If Christ has given me His purpose, He obviously knows that I’m ready for it. God asked me, “So, why are you still waiting?

I didn’t have the answer. It was just my selfish nature that wasn’t trusting my Savior enough to work through me. But in that moment, everything in me felt prepared for His purpose in me and I chose to chase it from that point on. I’m still chasing it.

Everyone has a purpose. Even the waiting room has it’s purpose. It is the place where we prepare ourselves for what we’re supposed to do next. But we were never meant to exist there forever.

It’s funny how impatient we are while waiting in that room, but as soon as God speaks to us what we’ve been waiting for, we just want to keep waiting.

God has designed us for what’s outside of the waiting room. The world. Creation. His people. And it’s waiting for you!

Are you still in the waiting room even after you’ve heard God give you the answer?

I’m not. And it’s not as stuffy out here.

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Amber is a sweet soul. We have been visiting each other’s blogs and tweets for a year now. I love her heart – her honesty – her transparency. And I’ve been anxiously waiting for when they would make the move to church plant that God had told them about long before they went.

Amber, thank you so much for being here today! Love you so much!

Follow Amber on her blog and Facebook and Twitter!