Smells that linger!!

Have you ever had a mysterious odor in your home? It has certainly happened to me. Having young children in my home, I usually assume it is just something in the trash can. I often try to ignore it. Have you noticed that an odor that stings your nose, will eventually fade into the background? Even though the smell is still there, you become used to it. You may even forget about it until it hits you in the face again, or until someone else mentions it.

One way of handling it, is to cover it up. Candles, and cans of air freshner may offer a bit of relief, but eventually you realize that you now have a fruity smelling odor. It is still there, just covered up.

Oh, how I dread the moment that I give up and decide to dig in, find the source, and clean up the mess. It is almost scary when you find yourself getting closer and closer, the odor growing stronger. You know there will be unpleasant things to dig into and a mess to clean up.

God wants to do this with our past hurts and sins. He wants to reveal to us the areas that we have simply gotten used to and grown comfortable with. He wants to remove all of the things that we've used to cover the areas that are contaminated. He wants us to allow him to dig into the pungent mess, and find the source. He knows we're scared, and he knows we don't want to reveal the things that have been left to rot. He also knows that the longer those things sit, the more they will infest our lives and even the lives of others.

God can destroy our mess and replace it with a refreshing aroma! An aroma that is welcoming to others and pleasing to Him. Allow God to search the depths of your life. Allow him to find those areas that let off an unpleasant stench. Allow him to replace it with the pleasing aroma of forgiveness, peace, and and healing.

Authored by: LEIGH RAMSEY

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:6-10

Lord today I pray over each one who reads this post and feels the sting of the unpleasant odor in their life. May they release to you any issue that is "lingering", causing unrest, worry or perhaps unforgiveness. I pray peace and rest for them. May they begin to uncover what they have tried so hard to bury and give it to you. In JESUS precious name - amen.

A former participant in our Spring Bible Study emailed me this poem. What a beautiful way she used to express what the Lord was bringing forth in her life as she moved through the Bible Study from a place of brokenness and bondage to freedom and renewal!!

Empty

Empty instruction, little mention of prayer.

Empty teachings without the Bible there.

Empty feelings-nothing felt much like love.

Empty life, uninspired from above.

Empty dreams that You didn't point me toward.

Empty values that meant nothing without You, Lord.

Empty "love" that only made me feel worse.

Empty worth, concluding that uselessness was my curse.

Empty ideas as I was blind and afraid.

Empty beliefs as the decision was made.

Empty emotions when I walked down the sterile hall.

Empty womb, I had let them take it all.

Empty heart every time I numbed the pain.

Empty hands as I searched for joy in vain.

Empty spirit, so I looked up to the sky.

Empty soul, but I heard You knock as I cried.

Empty of sin and filled with grace.

Emptied of hopelessness, joy in its place.

Empty vessel, God use me today.

Empty of me and filled with you, I pray!

All of this emptiness you chose to consume,

with Your love and a cross, and an empty tomb.

written by: Leigh Ramsey

Let me begin with a story:

A young boy found a butterfly Chrysalis and stopped to watch it as it was obvious that the butterfly inside was attempting to break free from its Chrysalis. Feeling sorry for the struggle that it was having to make, he took out his Boy Scout knife and carefully slit the Chrysalis open to "help" the butterfly.
It flopped out of the Chyrsalis to the ground where it eventually died because its wings were too weak to fly. What the boy intended as "helpful" was actually the butterfly's death sentence!

It is no mistake that the "logo" of Project 5:17 is a butterfly. It displays the fact that we are a new creation in Christ, vaguely representing the former being. There is more to it, though.

So often, women who are preparing to go through the process of abortion recovery are asked why they would visit past wounds. Many of these women know they are forgiven, hearing that their sin is "under the blood". Yes, God forgives. He offers so much more, though. God offers freedom from the guilt and shame of our past choices through His healing.

Just like the butterfly struggling to emerge, it can be hard to watch a person go through the process of healing. Revisiting old wounds and regret is never easy. This struggle is the very thing that gives the person the strength to fly, though.

If you are someone who is watching this struggle, please don't try to stop it. It is for good. If you are the emerging butterfly, please know that it is a hard process (the hardest part is the first call), but it doesn't last forever and soon you'll be soaring in the wind, and drinking the sweet nectar of freedom!

Written by: Leigh Ramsey

And of the third day He AROSE !!

Thank you to Marcia Schexnider for this beautiful letter:

Have you noticed there are beginning to be signs of Spring? I received an email from a friend that said, “I saw my first Red breasted Robin out, now the tulip trees are in bloom. Yay!!! Spring is on its way!” There’s something about Spring that fills us with hope. We see new life appearing everywhere. Trees bud and then turn beautiful shades of green. The dull and drab is replaced by bursts of color. Flowers that have been only a bulb in the ground raise their heads in full bloom as if in praise to the Creator. It’s as if they know, the tomb is empty—He is risen!!!

I have been privileged over the past eight weeks to witness the power of the resurrection at Project 5:17. Four ladies committed to go through the eight ­week Bible study, and Debbie and I have sat back in awe as God has done a powerful work in each one of them. It has been like watching a flower open up. When they first came, their heads were bent low in shame and regret. And now they have grasped the truth of Project 5:17’s founding scripture, “If any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

Oh yes He is risen INDEED!!!

The sacrifice of a changed life

Acts 24:25

As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."

Many times we push away from God when He asks us to step out in faith or obedience because it is not a convenient time or simply because we do not want to do what He is asking of us. Or maybe you are like Felix and you are afraid.

The good news that Paul was sharing with Felix was all about God's power to change lives. Just hearing the principles and truth of the Bible is not enough. It is the life changing dynamic behind it.

What do you hear God saying to you? Is He asking you to take a step that you are scared to take? Do not feel like you are not capable? Know that God is not going to ask you do something, that He will not equip you to do....God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Will you step out in faith and allow God to make a change in you today?

Join me in prayer...

Jesus thank you for your sacrifice of death for me. I want to give myself back to you as a sacrifice of praise through obedience and a desire to have my life changed according to Your will and Your way. In Jesus sweet and precious name, AMEN.

Casting vision for 2010

The Board of Directors recently met for our first annual strategic planning meeting and what a wonderful day we spent, at a beautiful location (special thanks to the Taylor's).

The board shared ideas, developed new short term and long range goals for the ministry. They also had a special opportunity to hear client testimonies in person, and on our first video podcast (special thank you to my hubby Darrell for coordinating this effort).

Thank you to each of our Board Members who so willingly give of their time to see the mission of Project 5:17 carried out.

Won't you join me as I pray that the vision statement cast for 2010 be carried out in a powerful way!

VISION STATEMENT 2010

"Sharing Christ's hope and healing with those who have been touched by abortion"

March for Life Rally January 22, 2010

What a humbling experience to be part of the candle light march and the impact that was felt in Lake Charles, LA this past Friday evening, as we stood for LIFE and in memory of those lost to abortion...