"Moving on Up" Inspire Conference

Dear Ladies,

I'd like to make you aware of my dear friend Sandy Phinazee's event she is hosting in February 2011 at the Florida Mall Hotel in Orlando. She has awesome speakers lined up. I'd like to encourage you that are able to be a part of that weekend! See the details below and check on the link for further information.

Hugs,
LaDonna

http://www.inspireconference.org

Stronger Than My Strength

Today I'm featuring a wonderful article that is so timely for many these days. It comes from the National Women's Ministries department of the Assemblies of God. I hope you are ministered today from it!

Hugs,
LaDonna


Stronger Than My Strength

By Maricela Hernandez

Her eyes spoke more than her words. Everything was calm when, all of a sudden, the sophisticated hospital machinery sounded the alarm. In an instant, the room was filled with nurses and assistants who came to my mother’s aid. I couldn’t do anything to improve my mother’s condition. Though I couldn’t comprehend all that was happening, I knew death could be imminent. Cancer was taking over. But even though she was in pain, she was not upset nor questioning God—she was simply waiting on Him.

I looked at her with loving eyes, and believed she was healing. Of course, I was seeing her with the eyes of faith. I understood that though her external body was deteriorating daily, her spirit was preparing for her encounter with God. Then God showed me a more profound truth about divine healing: His “maximum healing” goes farther than the physical limits and into eternity. That is when God decides to heal us once and for all—not just a temporal healing, but an eternal one.

Dear friend in ministry, the enemy wants us to think that God has failed us when our prayers are not answered the way we want, especially when we are in need of physical healing. We feel that since we serve God in preaching and teaching His Word, we ought to be in perfect health. When we are sick, we think God is obliged to heal us the minute we ask Him to do so.

But God works in mysterious ways. Even the Apostle Paul had to learn to wait on the Lord and depend wholeheartedly on His grace, as evidenced in 2 Corinthians 12:8–10: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [a thorn in the flesh] away from me. But he said to me: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (NIV).

In this difficult time, I was able to learn a prayer I had not previously conceived: “Lord, let my love for you be stronger than my strength.” I observed my mother losing her physical strength, but not her strength to love God. Even on her deathbed, she asked me to give her tithe and her missionary offering from her last disability check. Her financial faithfulness was a living testimony of her love for God.

I thank God for allowing me to be with my mother during her last days. I learned many profound spiritual lessons, but the one I cherish the most is the prayer she taught me as she prepared for her encounter with God: “When my strength wears out, when things don’t go right, Lord, let my love for you be stronger than my strength.”

MARICELA H. HERNANDEZ is a dynamic and inspirational speaker. She served as senior pastor of Templo Paraiso in Sullivan City, Texas (1995-2004). Alongside her husband, Rev. Rafael Hernandez Jr., they planted Family Christian Center in Penitas, Texas, which they presently pastor. Maricela is the founder of Women of Fire Ministries, a Bible school and mentoring internship program. She holds a BA in Secondary Education and is presently pursuing a Masters in Theology from Southwestern Assemblies of God University.


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Our Web site is now live! Level 1, titled “For Every Woman,” is free and features resources, advice and guidance for today’s woman. Level 2, titled “Inspiring Every Woman,” is free and offers resources to help you create a ministry tailored for every woman in your church and community. And in keeping with our vision for you and every other Christian woman to be equipped to minister within your circle of influence, we have created Level 3, a membership area that provides online training and resources! You will receive a one-year membership for $29.99, with new units being added every three weeks. Join today!

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© 2010 National Women's Department

Why Is There Color?

This entry today is from RBC Ministries Devotion for October 12th
by David H. Roper

I found this very interesting. I really miss Fall living in Florida now, so we try to make the best of it by decorating. Thank goodness we are enjoying less humidity and somewhat cooler temps this week than the brutal summer we just went through.

Hugs,
LaDonna

Read: Psalm 19:1-6
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. —Psalm 19:1
Bible in a year:
Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4

Why do some trees turn into a collage of radiant maroon, red, orange, and yellow colors in the fall? Trees are green in the summer because chlorophyll, a green pigment in the leaves, absorbs red and blue light from the sun. The light reflected from the leaves appears green to our eyes.

Chlorophyll is an unstable substance, and bright sunlight causes it to decompose rapidly. Therefore, plants must continuously synthesize and regenerate it. The shortening days and cool nights of autumn, however, interfere with this process. As chlorophyll breaks down, the green colors of the leaves begin to fade. Some trees change from green to bright yellow as the chlorophyll degrades. In others, the action of sugar in the leaves creates a red pigment, causing the leaves to turn maroon, purple, and bright red as the chlorophyll fades.

But why do we have color? It seems to serve no practical purpose—at least none that scientists can discern. And why are there photoreceptors in our eyes that enable us to see it?

I believe that God’s goodness is the point of His creation. He is “good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Ps. 145:9). He colored the world for our childlike delight. He’s like that, you know.

God, the engineer of all creation,
Spoke the word, and beauty was begun,
Then He gave to us His great salvation
Through the sacrifice of His own Son. —Hess
God’s glory shines through His creation.

Bring It Conference

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending "Bring It" a Pen-Florida District Women's event at the Omni Championsgate in Kississimme. It was a beautiful property with Golf course, pool,lazy river, and spa. The room was quite comfortable and tastefully decorated.

Rita Springer led worship which was just incredible! I love the songs she's written "Worth It all" and "I have to believe". Both are great songs to encourage the body of Christ that they can and will make it with the Lord's help in their time of trials.

Our Women's Director for Pen-Florida Marsha Woolley and gave a powerful word on Thursday evening!

Dr.Medina Pullings from Richmond, Virginia brought the house down on Friday evening and Saturday morning. I had never heard of her or sat under her ministry. I really appreciated her preaching. She moved powerfully in the gifts of prophecy and word of knowledge.

I also attended a workshop by Tina Blount, one of our women's ministries reps. She is a gifted speaker and writer. She really confirmed things in me God has spoken to me. Especially earlier in the week. I just pray that I am obedient in what He's asking of me.

The whole weekend was truly the best I've ever been to and involved in. Even though I was tired physically, my spirit man was refreshed. It was such a blessing to sit under these ministries.

One more note; YOU ladies of section 13 did it again! We won first place for having the most ladies attending the conference. I was surprised! but thrilled! So, thank you ladies and women's ministries leaders for a job well done!

Love & Hugs,
LaDonna