Martha Street: Your Global Front Porch

God-Sized Dream: Chapter 11

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Jun 172013

Are you ready for our last chapter in the You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream book study? Holley Gerth ends this resourceful book with Chapter 11: Commissioning YOU. You’ve heard from God. You’ve developed your dream. You’ve taken first steps. You’ve received great advice and resources from Holley. Now it’s time to be commissioned – sent out with power and focus.

Here are Holley’s powerful commissioning truths spoken over your God-sized Dream:

You are Chosen
You are Called
You are Already on Your Way
You are Needed
You are Loved
You are Going to Make It
Your Dream is Going to Change the World
Your Dream will Change You Too
You’ll Be Glad You Did It

I want to share a personal testimony as we close this conversation. When I launched Martha Street at the end of August, I planned to host the Beth Moore Living Proof Simulcast. I was planning on it bringing a community of women together and touching hearts. But God planned that day – JUST FOR ME. The teaching was powerful and she taught on a passage I was preparing to teach in Fall Bible Study. But what was more powerful was the ending. The commissioning prayer.

Beth said that she’d never ended a Simulcast this way before but that she felt compelled to commission someone. She wasn’t sure who the prayer was for. It was for me. (I’m sure others benefitted from it as well – but it was for me!) I laid on the floor and prayed along with her and then wrote down all the words I could remember before they faded with the last “amen”. Here’s what I have written down from her prayer:

Bring alive things that were dead.
Pull out anything in my heart that isn’t from You
Birth in my heart a love for my enemies
Agree with God about forgiveness and release all resentments

These are lyrics that were sung:

The mystery of Christ has come for me

No more fear

No more doubt

The steadfast love of God has called me

I am free

I am free

I ended with another refrain:

O, my soul, march on in strength

I was strengthened and challenged by these prayers. I didn’t know I needed a commissioning – but I did! God sent me exactly what I needed to launch this ministry. I believe Holley is covering you in a commissioning prayer, giving you exactly what you need as you step into your God-Sized Dream.

This chapter ends with a Go Deeper Guide (page 212) and a Dream it. Do it. (page 213). You’ll want to pause on these assignments before closing the book for the last time.

Let me end with Holley’s words:

You only get one shot at this world. And we only get one you.

Make the most of your time here.

Dare to dream.

Dare to do.

Dare to find out just how much God has in store for you.

My Body Monday: Coziness & Comfort

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Jun 172013

When I was preparing to launch Martha Street I took several online courses to improve my knowledge, skills and confidence. I was able to join in community with some amazing women online. Today I pass on a post & an introduction from one of these women, Victoria Smith from The Mojo Lab. You may have heard of Victoria from her previous blog, Smaller Living, which followed her process of downsizing her life to live in a tiny house. This girl is serious about good living, following her dreams and sharing it with us online.

Victoria wrote a post yesterday entitled When It’s Time for Coziness and Comfort. I was reading this through a stupor. We just made it through a 9 week stretch of schedule insanity. I hosted 16 people last week for my son’s graduation week. We’ve had my in-laws in town for 9 weeks. We made it through exams, ballet recitals, graduation, birthdays, and holidays. Both of my jobs exploded with work & issues. Let’s just call is schedule insanity.

I’m in serious need of some Coziness & Comfort. I read Victoria’s suggestions like a dog lapping water after a long walk. Thought I’d shared them with you for this My Body Monday. This Monday my body needs some coziness & comfort.

Eat Good Food.
Read Children’s Books
Do a News Blackout
Do Some Soul-Nurturing Reading
Putter to Your Heart’s Content
Play Inspiring Music
Take Naps
Let It Out
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
Get Crafty
Watch Happy Movies
Listen to Birds and Smile at Flowers
Reconnect with Family and Friends
Give Thanks

Isn’t that a great list? Take any of these suggestions and add it to your life this week to make it “BETTER” through coziness and comfort.

When I read the list I noticed that I’ve already started doing several of these in anticipation of company leaving town and life getting back to a slower, normal pace.

We came home from our 5th graduation party this weekend feeling sick. My kids are even asking to eat “real food”. Healthy, nutritious food is on the menu. Good food and a long walk will do wonders for all of us.
We had a 5 year old staying with us last week. I read him books before nap & bedtime every day. I love the beautiful artwork, lilting language and sweetness of children’s literature.
I’m getting started on our Gideon study with Priscilla’s workbook – and it is fabulous!! This is going to feed us well. Talk about Bible food for our hearts. Loving it!
So far my puttering has involved stripping all the beds and doing huge loads of laundry. We’ll get the rest of things in order today. Looking forward to things in their places.
I took a nap yesterday. Ken took a nap both Saturday & Sunday. We’ll allow space for naps next weekend as well.
I ordered some Mo Willems material to make a Pigeon quilt this summer. My crafty mind is already designing pieces in my head.
Grace & I are watching Anne of Green Gables. (Don’t tell the boys but Ken watched with us instead of going upstairs for the NBA playoff game last night!)
I’m doing the opposite of her suggestion of reconnecting with family & friends – I’m trying to get some alone time, some downtime, some personal recovery.

I hope this list inspires you. Encourages you. Pushes you to include some coziness and comfort in your life this week.

Weekend Prayer Prompt

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Jun 152013

Dear friends and prayer-writers,

Today’s prompt for your writing and praying is based on Psalm 24:1.

“The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it.” (NRSV)

Write a prayer of observation and acknowledgement, recognizing that all of the things & people & places that comprise your daily routine belong to God. (My writing at “Faith and Water” today has a playful tone.)

Many blessings,
Rachel

God-Sized Dream Book Study: Chapter 9

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Jun 132013

Are you ready to talk about the last chapter in our book study? Yep, we find ourselves at Chapter 9 of Holley Gerth’s fantastic book, You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream. I hope it challenges you by helping you take the next step in your God-sized dream. Today she offers the powerful reminder of WHY your dream is worth it. In the middle of life & work & busy days it is easy to forget WHY this whole thing is worth it. WHY I need to continue. WHY I started this whole thing in the first place. Chapter 9 will help you remember WHY Your Dream is Worth It.

The most obvious reason WHY is stated at the start of this chapter: God doesn’t have a Plan B for your life. Here are Holley’s words:

You are here at this time in history, with the strengths you have and the experiences you’ve gained, for a purpose. Every part of your life has been designed so that you can say a loud “Yes!” to God when he asks you to step out in faith with him.

Because you are the only one who can fulfill this dream, there is no one better than you to do it. Resist the urge to compare, and instead embrace that this dream is between you and God.

Holley’s next reason WHY your dream is worth it made me consider James 4:8 in a whole new light. You’re dream is worth it because you will never feel closer to God than when you’re pursuing a dream. She quotes James 4:8: ”Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” If I’m pursuing a God-sized dream it will draw me to him and I’ll find that He’s been drawing near to me! This was such an energizing thought to me. Dreams won’t drain me. They will draw me NEARER to God and I’ll find Him so very NEAR to me. Yes!

This isn’t all about me. Of course God wants part of the dream to be about you. The entire story of the gospel is about partnership, intimacy, and relationship.

What life-giving words for us to hold close to our hearts. God-sized dreams are meant to draw me closer to Him in partnership, intimacy and relationship. That’s the only WHY that’s really important. I need to cling onto that WHY when things are hard and discouraging. I need to remember that WHY when I feel overwhelmed by the work and immensity of the dream. I need to anchor myself with the WHY of drawing closer to God and finding Him very close to me.

There are some great questions in the Go Deeper Guide found on page 169. I know they’ll help you grasp and hold on to the WHY of your God-sized dream.

Chapter 10 is filled with stories of women living out their God-Sized Dream. You’ll be inspired by their hearts & lives. Grab a cup of coffee and soak in the encouragement and wisdom of their God-sized Dream lives.

Book Review: Praying God’s Word for Your Life

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Jun 122013

I met Kathi Lipp at the Allume Conference. She was talking about her book, Praying God’s Word for your Husband. I was happy to review that book & recommend it here on the Martha Street Porch. Kathi has another book – and I adore it. Let me gladly introduce you to Praying God’s Word for Your Life:

Kathi calls out women like you & me who give all day: to their family, friends, jobs, church family, community work, and even the family pet! Many women pray faithfully for their children and grandchildren. Many of us keep a prayer list from church with names of those requesting prayer for salvation, healing and encouragement. But do any of us put our own names on the prayer list?

In case you missed it, I’ll re-ask Kathi’s question: Do you put YOUR OWN NAME on your prayer list?

We all know prayer is effective. We all have stories where there is no other explanation except for prayer. We believe in prayer. But do we pray for ourselves?

The idea of praying or ourselves doesn’t really jive with the way we women think. We’re givers. We nurture others. We hold our friend’s hand as they cry. We pray fiercely when our friends or family struggles. We pray, of course. For our husbands, our kids, our friends, our neighbor’s cousin’s dog…but for ourselves? Not so much.

Kathi’s book addresses this issue head-on. She offers some good advice about prayer in general:

Have a time…start with a minute
Have a plan
Have some flexability
Have a spot
Have some stuff
Have no fear

She then moves on to address specific issues that are hot-buttons for many women. You can work through this book in order – or choose a chapter as that issue surfaces in your life. I read it straight through and want to keep it nearby my “spot” to use frequently as needs arise. Here are the topics she covers in-depth:

When you feel overwhelmed
Your Relationship with God
Your Relationship with Others
Your Marriage
Parenthood
When you feel Inadequate
When you’re at Work
Your Finances
When you’re Worried
When you’re Despairing
Your Past Mistakes
Your Health
Your Mission in Life
Your Hope in Christ

Great topics! I recommend that you purchase this book and read it. Mark it up. Keep your Bible & Journal near-by as you read. Then keep a copy wherever you pray. It may be the help you need in a moment of prayer. It may return your heart to Scripture & hope & faith in the middle of crisis. It will keep your prayer life anchored in Scripture.

This would be a great book to give as a gift. Maybe add a nice journal & pen. It’s a little gem that you’ll come back to time and time again.

Summer Gideon Study Kick-Off

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Jun 112013

Summer Gideon Study 2013 from LPV on Vimeo.

Are you ready to kick off our Summer Bible study? I haven’t received my book in the mail yet… but am looking for it any day. I hope you’ve been able to order a book and can get started on the Gideon study.

Here’s how it’s working. Every TWO weeks Beth Moore will be posting a video. I’ve included today’s kick off video so you’re sure to watch it. If you head over to the Living Proof Ministries blog you can join in the community discussion. There are some guidelines for how to write you comments to the weekly question so that we can join you in community.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you head over to the comments/community. This is a key component, especially if you’re doing the Bible study homework alone. I know how lonely I was for Christian female community when I was a missionary. This can’t replace women in your local context – but it can be a supportive, online community of Christian women. Get over there every Tuesday and get involved in the community aspect of the Bible study.

Next Tuesday I’m going to post my comments/thoughts on the study – so you’ll be able to find a post here every Tuesday for the next 6 weeks. Maybe that will provide a little encouragement to jump into the homework and keep faithful during the transition into summer schedules.

If you need to get the book, you can order it from Lifeway or from Amazon. We’re using Priscilla Shirer’s study on Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength. I was talking about Gideon’s example this morning in a conversation with the She Reads Truth Girls. Seems he may come up in our conversation all summer!

I hope you can join us as we study & share & pray & learn together from the life of Gideon.

My Body Monday: Summer Planning

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Jun 102013

Have your thoughts moved towards Summer Vacation yet? My house is full of family & friends coming in for Graduation and end of the school year celebrations. It marks a full week at the end of two full months. Okay, I should be honest. It’s been two CRAZY months that have been over-scheduled and lacked any sort of reasonable margin. We’re almost there!

Halfway through this packed season, I commented to my husband that it would take more than 5 days on Lake Michigan to re-set our bodies after this many weeks of stress. This deep tired wouldn’t be fixed by sleeping in, reading a good book while sitting in sand, and drinking some strong coffee. We’re bone tired. We’re weary. We need a season of “slow” and “normal” to re-calibrate and let our bodies rest.

This self-revelation led me to articles on Staycations. When you spend time off in your city, eating your home-cooked food and sleeping in your own bed. We have 6 weeks before we leave on family vacation. I still need to go to work. I’ll be writing here at Martha Street. I’ll still be talking with women. But in a slower, reduced-load, staycation kind of mindset.

One of the sweetest new friends I made at the Allume Conference was Elisa Pulliam of More to Be. Elisa is a life coach, mentor and teacher. She has a huge vision for older women mentoring teenage girls. I’m so drawn to her words & heart for younger women. I also like her sense of style – she’s a woman you’d love to go shopping with and then sit long over coffee and talk about ministry & life. I’ve been in contact with Elisa and keep up on her blog.

You know where this is heading, right? At the time I decided we needed a season of rest in order to re-right our out-of- balance family life, Elisa wrote about this on her blog. But, of course, God would use a dear friend to give me the nudge I needed. I love it when the world feels small and we feel connected other despite distance.

Here are Elisa’s 4 Simple Ideas to Make the Most of Summer:

Make Time for a Sabbath Rest
Set Apart Staycation Days
Simplify Workflow & Expectations
Use the Weeknights for Work Hours

Let me chime in on a couple of these that caught my attention:

Sabbath Rest. I work at church on Sundays. But we could work on Sunday lunch, afternoon & evening being Sabbath-filling.
Staycation Days. We live by a lake. Feel the beach chairs & cooler calling me to the lake some afternoons. You know I’ll be sipping iced coffees on the porch swing every day. But maybe a little water & sun & sand will round out our Staycation.
My part -time job at the high school ends in the summer, freeing up an entire day each week. Things slow a little at the church during the summer. I’ll take advantage of these extra, slower days.
Working one weeknight (maybe at Starbucks?) in order to have a full day or long afternoons free of work. This is a great idea!

As you look forward to your Summer schedule, I hope you’ll take some of Elisa’s suggestions to heart. Let’s take care of our tired, hard-working bodies by giving them a season of rest, re-filling, relaxation, and Sabbath.

Weekend Prayer Prompt

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Jun 082013

Dear friends and prayer-writers,

A warm welcome to the newest pray-ers and writers in our online community! I pray that these Friday prompts will encourage your souls with the reminder to pause in prayer….and more than pause: I hope that you’ll take the creative step to write out your prayers on paper or online. Everyone is welcome to share their prayers as comments on my blog, Faith & Water.

Today, a verse from Psalm 38 prompts us toward examining — and confessing — the wrongdoings, the strains, the injustices of our living that do not embody the fullness of Christ.

“My iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh on me
like a burden too heavy for me.”
(Psalm 38:4, NRSV)

Offer your own prayer of confession alongside the psalmist, and may God be gracious in inviting you to more just & faithful living today. (My prayer is posted here.)

Blessings,
Rachel

Summer Siesta Bible Study: Gideon

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Jun 072013

We only have one more week left in our You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream Book book study. Where did the time go? I remember starting the study, thinking it would end in the “last week of school”, feeling that so far away. Nope. It’s next week! The end of school is upon us and we’re entering into our Summer plans.

I’ve decided that we will join with Beth Moore and all the Siestas over at Living Proof Ministries in their Summer Siesta Bible Study. We’re all going to use Priscilla Shirer’s book Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength There are so many ways you can participate in this study: you can use Priscilla’s workbook for daily homework, weekly video lessons (if you choose), bi-weekly video chats with Beth Moore and the entire Siesta community commenting over on the Living Proof Blog. We’ll link up with them every Tuesday here on Martha Street. This gives you the greatest number of options to read the Word, go deeper in study and share in a community.

When I was a missionary struggling with language learning, I used to joke that Beth Moore was my Pastor. I’d do her Bible studies and it was what fed me Scripture in those years. I’ve always loved a time to focus on a topic. The routine of daily Bible study. The bite-by-bite feel of a daily workbook and weekly teaching. If you’re feeling alone, this is a great way to join us & the greater Christian girl community for Bible study.

Here are the details:

You’ll need to order Priscilla Shirer’s Gideon workbook. You can order this through Lifeway or Amazon. As far as I can tell, Lifeway will get it to you quicker than Amazon. I will put the workbook in our sidebar Widget if you want to purchase it through Amazon.

Beth Moore is going to do a kick-off video to get us all started next week. Yep, next week we’ll have the FIRST of the Summer Gideon Bible Study and the LAST You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream Book Study.

Don’t worry about being behind if you’re just ordering your book. Once Beth kicks us off next Tuesday (June 11), we’ll start the daily homework. So order your book now and you’ll have it in hand for the kick off – or close thereafter.

If you’d like to download Priscilla’s teaching for each chapter you can – but this is optional. You can manage with the member’s book, our conversation and Beth’s bi-weekly video chat. Feel free to download & watch Priscilla’s teaching from the Lifeway site.

I know we don’t have a lot of time between studies – but I don’t want us to miss the opportunity with Priscilla & Beth & the Siesta community. I’ll give you more information next week. Order your book and get the process started so you can join with us as soon as possible. I’d love to share this Summer Siesta Bible Study with you.

God Sized Dream Book Study: Chapter 8

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Jun 062013

Holley Gerth dishes out years of counseling & coaching advice in these last chapters of You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream. Chapter 8 is entitled How to Stop Sabotaging Yourself. Sounds like a chapter we need to talk about!

Holley has some wisdom to help you keep pursuing your dream over the long haul. Here’s her advice:

God-sized dreams take a lot of energy, strength and emotion. That means taking care of yourself as you pursue them is not self-indulgence or a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Holley reminds us that ANY expenditure of time, emotion and energy take a toll on our bodies. Even if the energy and emotion is for a God-sized dream. It will take a toll on your body.

I heartily agree which is why we’ve dedicated Mondays to talk about taking care of our bodies on Martha Street. As I talk with women in ministry, this is one of the consistent oversights. We feel that we can take care of everyone else and pour our hearts into ministries without taking care of our bodies. I agree with Holley: taking care of yourself is not a luxury. It is a necessity if you want to continue for the long haul in ministry.

Holley recommends that you build a Dream Team to help you through your God-sized dream. Here are the people that she suggests you find for your Dream Team:

A mentor
An encourager
A “younger” woman who can benefit from your experience
A cheering section
An advisory board

Here are a couple of things that Holley emphasizes that you DON’T NEED:

Avoid negative people as much as possible
Be ready for doubters.
Stand guard against bullies.

The first time I read this book, I cried when I read that last point. Stand guard against bullies. She encourages us that if you have bullies, it’s a pretty good sign that you’re doing something right. I was caught off guard by dear friends in ministry who became bullies. It was hurtful and devastating. I called Rachel Hackenberg and asked for immediate prayer. She covered my tears and fears in prayer. Be ready for doubters. Stand guard – prayerfully – against bullies.

This chapter ends on pages 153 & 154 with the Go Deeper Guide and the Dream it. Do It. assignment. Lots of good ideas for helping you keep on track without self-sabotage. You’ll grow deeper by doing this homework.

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