Leading and Loving It...Really?

Sometimes, things just work out right...yes, they do...and that's the way I felt about the recent retreat that I attended in Nashville with 150+ pastor's wives from all over the U.S. and Canada! It was dubbed "Armed and Dangerous" and was put on by Leading and Loving It, an organization designed by pastor's wives to connect pastor's wives.

Lori Wilhite and Lisa Young

Linda and Tiffany Cooper

Linda and Lisa Young

The week before I left for TN, I wasn't even sure if I should travel away from my home with all of the craziness going on in my world. As you can probably relate, life happens, and many days are just overwhelming. So with my mom battling stage 4 cancer, my daughter turning 18 and graduating from high school, and our ministry making the biggest move evah into a new location, I hopped on a plane by myself to Tennessee really hoping to have a time of relaxation and some genuine "me" time. I didn't personally know one woman but many I had "met" through social media.

What I found when I got there were down-to-earth women who were EXACTLY like me. Can you imagine?! Women who were ready to connect and form new relationships. Women who were going through difficulties and struggles. Women who loved their husbands and families. Women who dealt with anger and jealousy and didn't want to. Women who were Christ followers wanting to make a positive difference for the kingdom. Women who were trying to follow God's leading. Women who were real...

Leading and Loving It Team

"Wonder Women" chicks

I experienced something that was warm and welcoming over those few days. It was a sweet taste of authentic, loving community, you know, the kind that's Jesus-centered. There was an overwhelming sense of safety in the midst of laughter and crying with new friends, and in the moments during intimate worship time with our Creator. The hearts of women from all over this country were connecting and being knit together...forming bonds that will go way beyond this retreat by strengthening and equipping them to go back into their communities and lead with passion and purpose...then encouraging others to do the same. So thank you ladies for investing your hearts and transparency with each other.


And my commitment to leading and loving it?...yeah, I do and I will.

Shari Sutherland and Linda

Pam Booher and Linda

Today It's About Me Time

I am so stoked today! This afternoon I will be meeting up with about 100 pastor's wives and women in ministry from around the country...we are all going to connect at "Armed and Dangerous", a 3-day retreat just for the gals!!

Yesterday I was in Walmart and was getting butterflies just thinking about being at the retreat and kept laughing at how silly I felt...it was kind of like the same feeling I had before Christmas Day as a little girl...that excitement and anticipation of knowing that I was going to get something great but not sure of exactly what! Yeah, I did say "get" this time...what I AM GOING TO GET!!! It's a little strange for me to think like this, however I'm looking at this trip as a gift from my father, God, to me, his daughter.

So I am planning to laugh a lot. I plan to connect with as many women as I can. I plan to listen and gain from the experiences of others. I plan to learn and be open to new things. I plan to eat good food and rest when I can. And I plan to seek God for His real purpose for me being in Nashville this week. Ultimately, I plan to bask in the gift of "me time".  Ahhh...just the sound of it...soooo good!

YAY...I'm Back from the Dead!!!

HEEELLLLOOOOO again!! I know I have been gone for awhile, but I am back again among the living and breathing and functioning people in the world! Wowwee has it been a crazy couple of months in the life of my family personally and also in our church family.


As of April 2011, our entire ministry team took a leap of faith and moved into a new facility, now called The Experience Center. In six weeks time we completely renovated a 15,000 square foot portion of a former furniture building and created a state-of-the-art theater, cafe, and kids facility with a teen center to follow soon.


To say it mildly...IT HAS BEEN NUTSOOOO (guess that's not really mild, huh?!)! But God has positioned and enabled and provided for us in so many amazing ways, and we continue to scratch our heads in wonder of His provision and blessings and His timely fashion.


So I am glad to be back in blogger-world and am so ready to share the exciting things that are happening and encourage you on your journey...BTW, you may be wondering, "What does "I love Happy Hour" have to do with this post?" 'Happy Hour' is the name of our weekly Sunday night experiences...when we can make Jesus the most exciting thing anyone has ever experienced...hence the name!!

Wanna Laugh Today?

Just providing you with a refreshing opportunity to laugh today.
Take two minutes, sit back and enjoy.
I think this will make you smile...

How to Start Trusting Again

We all know what trust is. We know when we have it, and we know when it's lacking. I think I'm correct when I say that everyone of us has had our trust broken or has struggled with trusting in ourselves. So who do you trust when the big decisions have to be made? Who do you rely on completely?

Now I've learned a few things about trust.  I've learned that trusting in people is temporary, my heart can be broken and I will at times doubt my own decisions. I've also learned that trusting in God is forever, my heart can be healed and I rely more on Him than ever.  But if I'm being honest with you, I am still in process of leaning more on the latter. I believe with everything that is in me, that putting trust in God is the best way for us...ultimately because God wants us to have the best life! Now don't you worry if you are not fully trusting in God yet. It's step by step and day by day...a conscious decision to hand the steering wheel to God and get comfortable with Him driving... 

As you begin to trust in God, use the following five ways to help with the big and not-so-big decisions in your life:

T: Turn to God for the big and not-so-big decisions in your life.
R: Rely on Him to guide you along the way.
U: Understand that while people and circumstances may let you down, God will not.
S: Separate temporary trust (people) from eternal trust (God).
T: Take God at His word...He will always direct you when you lean on Him.


Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)

2 Ways to Have Power Over Your Guilt

Secrets, shame and guilt...words that can easily take us to a place that implies darkness and sadness...and unfortunately a familiar place where many of us are living today. Last night at Happy Hour, we heard a message from Tim about our secrets, shame and guilt and how the enemy would love to keep us dwelling on anything negative from our past.


Many of you may be dealing everyday with painful decisions and hurts...things such as divorce, abortion, abuse, addiction, betrayal...and you just cannot seem to forget them and move on. It's too painful. It's not fair. It was a bad decision. It's not easy to stop. I want you to know this today...God does not want you to live in this place anymore. His desire is for you to live in the freedom and joy that is experienced through letting go...even if you have not tried before to rid yourself of the pain of the past, you can start today. 


Empower yourself to move on by...
1) Confessing to God for forgiveness/to forgive. God will forgive you, and God will ultimately help you to forgive someone else. Talking to God about your shame and guilt will enable you to begin the process of letting go.  Admit to Him that you are still struggling. Share the pain you are feeling. Ask Him to help you begin this process. Recognize that He is the author of forgiveness and your source of strength.   
2) Confessing to people for healing.  Talking to someone that you trust will help you to heal emotionally. God's word tells us that when we confess our faults to one another we will be healed.  Yes, healed! So take the time to lean on and entrust your struggle to a friend in Christ who can pray for you along the healing journey.


Your Chance to Share: What has helped YOU to be empowered over secrets, shame and guilt?

12 Things to Say "No" to Now

Click here to see the truth about you!

One of the hardest things for many of us to do is say the word "NO"...But as we grow in our faith and understand that God wants the best for us, we need to learn to say NO to the things that will keep us from experiencing the good life in Christ.  Our inner thoughts and reflections determine the course of our actions, and the first step in living positively on purpose is to learn to say NO to the negative ideas we have about ourselves. God's ultimate desire is for you to see yourself as He does, live life to the fullest and rid yourself of the things that weigh you down.  So let's start leaning toward the positive by saying NO to the negative.  You can do this!


Begin the process TODAY by:

1. Saying NO...to guilt. 
2. Saying NO...to shame.
3. Saying NO...to being perfect.
4. Saying NO...to blame.
5. Saying NO...to condemnation.
6. Saying NO...to criticism.
7. Saying NO...to regret.
8. Saying NO...to comparing.
9. Saying NO...to hate.
10. Saying NO...to judgment.
11. Saying NO...to believing that you are not worthy.
12. Saying NO...to the lies and YES to the truth!

Question:  What else would you say NO to today?

Be Golden!

What would happen if we really treated people well?

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."...aka: The Golden Rule. Simple. Straight-to-the-point. A childhood principle that many of us were taught from an early age.  Hey, I sure know that I want to be treated well!  I truly desire people to be nice to me.  I love it when someone offers to help when I'm in a pickle.  I think it's really cool when people forgive me for saying things that aren't so nice.  So why don't you and I take the challenge this week and be golden to the world we are trying to reach...yeah!...just basically being like the Jesus we are s'posed to be representing...it'll change everything!


OK...here are 8 examples to help you get started today:
1) Make a phone call to someone who is hurting.
2) Smile at people.
3) Say I'm sorry when you've hurt someone.
4) Forgive an offense.
5) Lend a hand to a friend (or even a stranger) in need.
6) Be kind-hearted.
7) Tell someone how Jesus is changing your life.
8) ...Add your special touch as the week goes on....


Verses:
*Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets. [Matthew 7:12] 
* Do to others what you would want them to do to you. [Luke 6:31] 

A Tribute to My She-Friends

Wow-wie do I have some really incredible friends in my life!  Are you experiencing this same thing?  Well I wrote a little  tribute to all of those amazing she-friends in our lives...I think it'll have a familiar ring...


...She knows what I am going through. She sits down and sends me a card. She picks up the phone and calls me. She spends time with me in conversation.  She talks. She listens. She shares. She can hear what I am saying. She laughs when I laugh. She cries when I cry. She tells me she cares. She is compassionate. She encourages. She completely understands me. She knows my quirks. She holds me accountable. She loves me for who I am. She stops her life and lends her shoulder when I am hurting. She supports my passions. She is patient when I rant and rave. She is an encourager and inspires me. She loves me despite my flaws. She makes my world a better place. She is wonderful. She is my friend. 

A NEW LOOK FOR REFRESHER TODAY

BLOG UPDATE...I have been working on a new look for my blog... and just as I hope these posts "refresh" you periodically, I felt that the overall RefresHer Today blogger homestead needed to be refreshed as well!  I love change, and I will be updating the look now and again to keep things current and not boooorrrrriiinnnnggg!  Ewww, hate boring! So I hope you enjoy the new look!

FINALLY!..YOU CAN MAKE A COMMENT!

Well, as of yesterday, I was thankfully made aware that the majority of the population in cyberland could not leave a comment on my blog..uggh!   And I am posting today to let you know that I believe the problem is solved...yay!!
Sooooo if you would, please, please leave a comment in the box below to make sure that I have this little dilemma rectified...I truly appreciate and value your input; I really do.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS!

Over the years I have had the chance to read some really amazing books from women who I believe are "real to the core".  These women are honest, practical and have encouraged me to know that there is nothing that can keep a good woman down...woohoo..love that!

The following five books have helped me in different ways and through different "seasons" in my life (two were shared on yesterday's blog post).  The last book is my absolute fav and the only one that has sustained and guided me in every single season of my life.  Click here for a great place to check them out if you get a chance.

Just curious..what is your favorite book?  Please share in the comments if you would...