A Parched and Thirsty Heart

Jeremiah 14:4

"The ground is parched and cracked for

lack of rain"

When I think of what the ground feels like when it has not rained in a long time, it is so dry and the word that comes to mind is brittle. The ground has several cracks and many times even the grass becomes so distressed and fragile that it will break under any pressure placed upon it.

The same is true for our heart and our lives without spiritual rain. When we do not allow God's word to pour over us and allow our hearts to soak up it up we become just as the parched ground: fragile, dry, hard, cracked and eventually unable to with stand the pressure of even daily life.

Are you thirsty today, is your heart desperately seeking spiritual refreshment? Are you in a dry spell, if so, won't you call out to Him today?

Allow me to walk with you in prayer...

Lord Jesus, I come to you today with a need for spiritual refreshment and a fresh drink of Your living water. I have become dry within my heart and I ask you to hydrate me soak me with your Word and Your presence. Please "rain" down on me today Lord.

Forgiveness isn't always easy!

Tonight I sit humbled before the Lord. It still amazes me that He has called me to serve in such and incredibly powerful ministry.

My prayers tonight are centered around more of HIM and less of me. The amount of love and forgiveness that Jesus gives is more than my brain can handle at times. This leads me to a question for you tonight...what does true forgiveness looks like?

Forgiveness is not easy for most of us. Being the human natural response our instinct is to withdraw in to ourself as a protective measure when we've been injured. We don't naturally give mercy, grace and forgiveness when we've been wronged.

How do we forgive when we don't feel like it? How do we translate the decision to forgive into a change of heart?

We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete.

Forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

Thought to take away..... Forgiveness is a decision NOT a feeling!

Stop by and see us!

Project 5:17 will have a booth at the Southwest Louisiana Women's Conference. If you are attending the upcoming event take a moment to stop by and say hi, we would love to meet you. We are looking forward to the opportunity to visit with those in the community and raise awareness that there is help available to those women who are hurting from a past abortion.

The conference is going to be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, Thursday October 15th.

For more information visit www.womenscommissionswla.com

Surrendering the Secret Training

Marcia and I are very excited to say we recently attended a Surrendering the Secret Leader Certification training in Kirbyville, Texas. We enjoyed seeing Pat again and learning additional training tips for the Bible Study.

Pat Layton is the author of Surrendering the Secret, which is a post-abortion healing Bible Study published by Lifeway. If you would like more information visit the STS website at www.surrenderingthesecret.com.

Prayer is needed more than ever in our nation!

Take a moment to view this link: http://www.realhealthcarerespectslife.com/

For any of you who may not be familiar with Planned Parenthood, they are America's largest abortion provider.... See below a heartbreaking statement made regarding what Planned Parenthood is really about. Statement below taken Christian Wire website:

Largest Abortion Provider Backing Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Admits Infants Born Alive During Abortion are Left to Die... NJ Planned Parenthood Nurse: "It Does Happen."

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/234758502.html

For such a time as this!!

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What's more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this? Esther 4:14

I love this story of Esther and how God took her and put her in the right place - at the right time. How many of us are in the right place and the right time and we know God is asking us to step out of our comfort zone and do something for HIM?

Does God have you at an elevated place today? A place that you know is by His hand? God's words says "For God has not given us a spirit of fear" 2 Timothy 1:7.

Don't be afraid, step out and step toward the Lord today, lean into Him and trust that He has appointed this time according to His timetable and not yours.

Fear not - for He is calling you for such a time as this!

New Face for us!

I wanted to take a moment to say "Thank you" to Jennisa at Once Upon a Blog for working so patiently with me as she created our new blog face.