November 6, 2024

Winning Him Without Words: Don’t Save Your Husband – Save Yourself!

October 7, 2012 by

 

What can we expect from Chapter 2, you ask?  The answer is short, sweet, and simple: How not to spiritually ambush your spouse!  Okay, maybe not “simple”.  While I read this chapter, all I could think of was how many times I could relate to what Lynn was sharing!!  I had to chuckle at how many of the “ambush attempts” she mentioned, were things I had tried in the past, too!!  haha!

It was SO IMPORTANT to ME that my husband understood just how important salvation was, that I would like a Nazi trying to ambush his every waking moment to get him to give his life to Jesus!  HELLO!! Can you say “Bible-thumper”????  Yes, that’s who I was!   But God…..

Ohhhhh, But God began to show me some things about my walk with Him; and some things about my husband’s walk with Him!

He began to show me what was my responsibility, and what was HIS (God’s) responsibility!  I had to learn to give God control of my husband’s salvation.  I had to learn to trust God!  I had to tell myself over and over again “God’s Got This!”  That is my favorite mantra now, in everything:  “God’s Got This!!  I wonder today just how many times God looked down and said “Good Grief Girlfriend, I’ve Got This!!! Let It Go!!!”

Letting Go was the key!  The key to not only my peace of mind, but to my husband’s salvation.  I had to learn to let go and get out of God’s way, so that He could do what He needed to do … without my interference!!  I was never going to save my husband!  I didn’t have the ability to save my husband….ONLY GOD DID!  I had to get out of God’s way!

I had to stop nagging him about reading his Bible.  I had to stop leaving Christian material lying around everywhere, so he would see it.  I had to stop talking.  I had to start listening!  But most importantly, instead of nagging, I had to start praying!!!  I had to get on my knees every day and pray, asking the Lord not only for my husband’s salvation, but asking God to help me stay out of His way, so He could do what He needed to do in my husband’s life!  Girlfriend you have no idea how many times I had to almost put duct tape on my mouth to shut me up!!!  My husband probably wanted to do that a time or two, as well! haha!! (I can laugh about that today….!!!)

GOD’S

GOT THIS.

So back to Chapter 2.  Here is your Reading Assignment for this week!  Remember, each day you have a certain section to read so you can follow along with our blog posts.  We take a chapter a week, and break it into sections and blog about each section.  That way it gives us a way to really focus on that particular section!  THEN we go back to our Facebook Discussion Group, and talk about that section just a tad bit deeper!  I hope you will join us!  Click HERE if you would like to sign up for this study and join our FB Group!

YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT:

Monday: Oct 8 –

Don’t Save Your Husband – Save Yourself –  Beverly

Tuesday: Oct 9 –

It’s Safe to Relinquish Control –  Jennifer

Wednesday: Oct 10 –

Throw Me a Life Preserver  – Donna

Thursday: Oct 11 –

A Daily Prayer / How Should We Pray – Sarah

Friday: Oct 12 –

Weekly Review / Discovery / Prayer – Martha

Let’s Pray:

Oh Heavenly Father, as we read through this chapter this week, open our eyes Lord to see what You have for us!!  Open our hearts Lord so we are able to receive from You.  Lord, I pray against any hindrances that may stop us from reading this week, or participating in the discussion group.  Lord I know that the message in this book is such a powerful message for those of us who are unequally yoked!

Father, help us to see clearly how we are in Your way, and what we need to do to get out of Your way!  MOVE US out of the way, if You have to, Lord!

Lord, I pray for the unbelieving spouse of each reader that comes to our blog each day, and I ask for a Spirit of righteousness to fall upon them!  Bless them Lord, with a thirst for salvation!  A thirst so powerful that nothing will quench it…but You Jesus!  Repair hearts Lord that have been damaged in the past by “religion” and “legalism” Lord.  Set the captives FREE, Lord, In Your Precious Name, AMEN!

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Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  Would you like someone to pray with you?

Email our Prayer Ministry at Robin@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com.  Someone from our Prayer Team will contact you shortly!

Enjoy your reading this week!  I’ll see you in the Women’s Group!  🙂

In His Love,

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Saturday’s with Shandy Showers

October 6, 2012 by
6 Weeks to Make Your Home Shine for the Holidays!
Week One by Shandy Showers
 
Forty-seven. Seventy-nine. Eighty-six. Do those numbers mean anything to you? I’ll give you a hint… Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve. New Year’s Eve. Can you believe it?  Have you done anything yet to prepare for the most wonderful time of the year?
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How many of us have had holiday celebrations over the years that have been marred by anxiety because our house wasn’t as clean as we would have liked it to be, or because we waited until the last minute to do everything and exhausted ourselves in the process? I will be the first to raise my hand and say, “ME!” But not this year. Not for me, and not for you if you follow along with us!
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Welcome to “6 Weeks to Make Your Home Shine for the Holidays!” Whether you are a domestic diva or don’t know a duster from a dishcloth, this is for you! Every Saturday for the next six weeks, we will meet right here on the blog to learn how to prepare our homes for the upcoming holidays. (And when we’re through, don’t go anywhere, because we will have a new series on decorating for Christmas and making handmade gifts!) You will check here for your weekly assignments, and are welcome to leave comments and/or ask questions. Maybe you’re not sure how to do something or are wondering if there‘s a better way to do it… just ask 🙂 Then we will head on over to our secret Facebook group, where we can post before & after pictures and have some fun with what we’re accomplishing!
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In my experience, any successful cleaning spree starts with clutter control! So to kick off the first week, we are kicking out some of that clutter! I just moved to a new state this past weekend, and did some major purging the last week of packing. We took nearly 20 bags to Goodwill, made 4 trips to the city dump, put several items out for bulky waste pick up, and gave our neighbor several pieces of furniture and knick-knacks. Even after all that, I bet I can come up with more to banish from my home, so I’m going to do this with you.
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Let’s dive in, ladies! First, take a garbage bag and quickly go through every room in your house. Anything that needs to be thrown away, throw away! Last week’s newspaper, that drawer full of old makeup, junk mail, those shoes that should’ve been retired a year ago, the sweater that’s beyond repair, the bag in your teenager‘s room from last night‘s fast food run… fill up that garbage bag! Now you’re going to take a box or a bag and find 25 more things to either give away or throw away… the pile of sweaters you never wear anymore, the jeans that don’t fit or went out of style in the 80’s, the old toaster you have stashed away as a backup, the old books you’re never going to read again. 25 things. It’s really easy, and your house will start to breathe again.
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I’ve done this before, and because I love a good challenge, I found my first 25 items, then found a bunch more! It feels so good! I encourage you to have your kids do this as well. Maybe start small with them and have them put 5 things in the giveaway box. Or maybe 10. Make it a game and see who can fill up their box the fastest! The only rule: don’t overthink anything. If you have to think about it, it doesn’t mean as much to you as maybe you thought it did.
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We want to see how much you’re clearing out and cleaning up and congratulate you on a job well done, so be sure to take before & after pictures every week! You’ll have the opportunity to share them each Saturday in our facebook group! A clean home is a happy home, and your home is going to be very happy for the holidays!
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Let’s pray:
As we prepare our homes for the holidays, let us remember to do everything enthusiastically, as something done for You, Lord. (Col 3:23-24) May our preparations be done decently and in order (1 Cor 14:40) and let them be an act of service to You and our families, so we are able to welcome the holidays with gladness rather than anxiety, keeping You at the forefront of all our celebrations. Thank you, Father, for these women and for this opportunity to support and encourage each other. Bless our efforts, Lord, and help us make wise decisions so we do not become distracted or discouraged. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Your assignment:
TODAY – Comment below to let us know you’re taking part in this series and let us know the biggest challenge you face in preparing your home for holiday celebrations.
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Today & Mon – Throw Away & Give Away Challenge (see above) Remove those items from your home right away.
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Tues – Gather/Buy/Make Cleaning Supplies, and you’ll need a 3-ring binder (w/ a clear pocket on the front) and a 3-hole punch. You will be using this binder for this series, as well as future series. We’ll have some free printables for you along the way!
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Wed – Front Porch: Shake out welcome mat. Use your outdoor broom to knock down webs, and to sweep the front porch and walk. Wash windows facing the porch, as well as your front door and doorbell. If your siding or trim is dirty, or if you have railing, take a bucket of warm, soapy water, and wash that as well. Clean outside light fixtures. Tidy things up, and put up some fall decorations if you’d like!
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Thurs – Entryway/Foyer: clean out & organize the coat closet. Wipe down closet door. Wipe down walls, trim, and baseboards if dirty or dusty. Wipe down light switch(es). Sweep and mop floor. Clean light fixture.
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Fri – Catch up on anything you haven’t completed, then enjoy your evening! You’ve earned it!
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We’d like to invite you to be part of our online Bible study! Click on the “Sign-Up Here” button at the top of the page to learn more or to register for the Women’s Bible study and be added to our Facebook group!
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If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord & Savior and would like someone to pray with you, email  Robin@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com and someone from our Prayer Team will contact you soon.
Blessings,
Shandy

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Shandy lives with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Gabriella, in Kirkland, Illinois. She also has an adult daughter who lives in Wisconsin.

She’s a Titus 2/Proverbs 31 “virtuous woman in progress” and has a passion for homemaking and raising a family. She considers it a huge blessing to be a modern-day archetype of the classic housewife. Though her infertility diagnosis has prevented Shandy and Scott from growing their family, they are not putting God on a shelf, and are believing Him for their miracle baby.

Shandy believes in old-fashioned traditions and family values, and loves the music and movies of the 1940’s… especially the musicals. She’s loves Elvis, contemporary Christian and country music. She enjoys genealogy, knitting, crafting, country road trips, cozy fires, horseback riding, and living history museums. Her favorite season is autumn, and she loves everything about Christmas!

In addition to blogging about homemaking for our women’s ministry, Shandy is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Founders of Girlfriends Coffee Hour. She has also served as a Sunday School and VBS teacher in her church, and has also been in puppet ministry, choir, and handbell choir throughout the years. She loves to be involved and bloom where God plants her!

She is blown away by what an awesome God we serve, and endeavors to be salt and light in this world so that others may come to know and love Jesus.

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Saturday’s with Shauna Jared

October 6, 2012 by

This blog is brought to you today by Shauna Jared

I am so excited that I was asked to do the Saturday craft/fun blog for the Singles Ministry here at GCH!  I love all things crafty, although it’s hard for me to find time to actually do them… but recently I’ve discovered a new craft obsession that’s relatively easy and inexpensive as well as relaxing, so I thought I would share it with you guys!  Hand embroidery! 

 

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  Embroidery?  You mean dishtowels with animated vegetables and teacups on them?  Puppies doing laundry and washing dishes?  Well, you certainly can embroider those patterns if you would like (I’ve found TONS of free vintage embroidery patterns online… see the links later in this post) and I actually find some of those old patterns quite charming!  As the Bible says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.” 😉  But there are plenty of modern embroidery patterns out there and you can make anything from tea towels to quilts to embroidering on clothing and tote bags!  And embroidered items can make fantastic gifts!  (Christmas is only 79 days away, ladies…. )

 

So, let’s get started, shall we?

 

I’m currently working on a tea towel with some funky flowers on them (see photo above), so I’ll tell you what you’ll need for this project and where to get patterns and how to get them on your tea towel (or pillowcase or whatever your project is going to be!)

 

Basic tools you will need:

 

Embroidery pattern ( this is a link to Aunt Martha’s, but there are plenty of other options.  The one I’m using is “Fantasy Flowers” found at sublimestitching.com)  

Embroidery needles 

Embroidery hoop (5” – 7”) 

Embroidery floss (how many and colors will depend on your particular project) 

Blank Tea Towel (or pillowcase, tote bag, shirt, quilt piece, baby bib, whatever… you get the picture.  A “blank” just means an item that has no design on it – it is awaiting your brilliant embroidery masterpiece)

An iron and ironing board… I think most everyone already has these 😉

 

And depending on what type of pattern you have, you may need the following:

 

Vellum tracing paper 

Iron-on transfer pen

 

 

First, let’s talk about the pattern.  You can buy iron on transfer patterns and all you will do is simply follow the instructions on the package and iron it on to your blank.  Simple!  You can find the “Aunt Martha’s” brand of iron on transfers at Wal-Mart or JoAnn’s and these are usually the vintage type patterns.  I’ve also found a couple of awesome websites that offer iron on patterns for purchase:

 

Pattern Bee:  http://patternbee.com/MENU.html

Sublime Stitching:  http://www.sublimestitching.com/ (the pattern I’m currently using in the photo at the beginning of this post is “Fantasy Flowers”… they also sell everything else you would need for embroidery in their shop!  Even beginners kits!

 

You can also find patterns online (some free, some purchased PDF’s) to print at home.  You would then need some vellum tracing paper and an iron-on transfer pen in order to get the design onto your blank.  I’ve found many websites that offer free vintage embroidery patterns, so you would need the tracing paper and transfer pen to use these.  You would simply print your pattern out, then place a piece of tracing paper over it.  It is thin, so you can see the pattern underneath.  Use your iron-on transfer pen to trace the design onto the paper.  Then follow the instructions that come with the pen and iron it on to your blank.  Easy peasy!  (NOTE:  If there is lettering, make sure you are tracing it BACKWARDS so that the words show up correctly on your blank when you iron it on!  Let’s not talk about how I found this out…)

 

Here are some resources I’ve found for free patterns:

 

Pattern Bee:  http://patternbee.com/MENU.html (offers some freebies)

Vintage Transfer Finds:  http://mytransfers.blogspot.com/

French-Knots: http://www.french-knots.com/

nanaCompany: http://nanacompany.typepad.com/nanacompany/ (beautiful blog and they offer some freebies)

 

I’m sure there are other ways to get your pattern on to your blank, but these are the two best ways, in my opinion 

 

Now that you have your pattern on your blank, you’re ready to go!  

 

Next, you need to put the hoop on your project to help you make even stitches and keep even tension.  Take the hoop apart and put the piece that isn’t adjustable underneath your fabric.  Your whole project doesn’t have to fit inside the hoop, you can move it around when you need to work on another part.  Now put the piece that has the adjustable screw on it on top of your fabric, over the other hoop, and push down until they go together.  Then you will need to tug at the fabric all the way around the hoop edge to make sure it’s good and tight.  And tighten up the screw if you need to.  Be sure to remove the hoop from your project when you’re not working on it for an extended period of time.  You don’t want it to get “hoop burn”!

 

Now, thread your embroidery needle with some floss and make a knot at the end… then we’ll take a look at a basic embroidery stitch!

 

The Back Stitch

 

 

So easy!  This is the stitch I’m using in the photo at the top of this post. Simply bring your needle from the back of your work, up through at “1”, back down at “2”, then back up again in front of “1” at “3”.  Then you would go back down at “4” and so forth.

 

There are other stitches you can do to get different effects, such as the stem stitch, satin stitch, split stitch, and French knot.  If the pattern you choose requires one or more of these stitches, it should give you a tutorial in the instructions.  If not, you can Google the stitch to find instructions or even find video tutorials on YouTube 

 

So that should be enough to get you on your way!  Are you addicted yet?  I certainly am.  I can’t wait to see your projects and hear about your new found love of embroidery, so please make sure to share in the comments below!  Praise God for embroidery!  Have a blessed day! 

 

<3 Shauna

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Winning Him Without Words: Placing Christ on the Throne

October 4, 2012 by

And Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

MATTHEW 28:20

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Placing Christ On The Throne by Sarah Boyer

To surrender you power and control is a hard thing to do. Some may say impossible. But by relinquishing all the power to Jesus and letting him fill your heart, mind and soul, you will experience the greatest feeling of peace. I know; I’ve done it.

I am a control freak and a worrier. If I don’t have a perfectly laid out plan for everything in my life, I feel out of control, unorganized and frazzled. I am not at rest until I have that plan! This is something Jesus has been tugging at me to fix. I am a work in progress, but this is how I am evolving:

I used to sit and make MY plan of how I think things should go.

My plan would fail and I’d become anxious, angry and uptight, snipping and yelling at everyone in my path.

Then I’d start all over again with a new plan.

Big Fat Fail! It never occurred to me to ask Jesus what His plan was for me! I always thought that Jesus didn’t care about my little day-to-day affairs. He only cared about the big stuff, where I should go to college, whom I should marry, live etc.

I’ve recently learned that Jesus wants to guide your every move, from the little things such as what you eat all the way to the big stuff such as how to speak with your non-believing spouse. It’s sort of like how you help your children. You help them make the simple choices in hopes that when the big decisions come, they will come to you for guidance. Jesus wants to do the same. He wants to guide you through it all. This brings to mind Proverbs 16:9: The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

So this is my new plan!  

I am going to start each day with this prayer from now on!

It is suggested in our study today, that you get out of bed and fall to your knees when you say this prayer. At first when I started doing this, I felt silly. Not because my husband would see me and judge me because he leaves for work 3 hours before I even get up. But because I felt foolish. Isn’t that silly? No one around but me and Jesus and I felt silly. But I made myself do it and have been doing it for the past few days and the foolish feeling is wearing off and the peace and comfort of surrendering to Jesus is taking over. I’ll trade that for foolishness any day! Besides, what better way to start your day then arming yourself with the power of Jesus inside you?

I am now better prepared to handle anything that comes along throughout the day because all I have to do is recall our simple prayer, surrender my authority of the situation and give it to Jesus to handle. And He always does!

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord, I pray that you can help us all to surrender our authority over to you. Remind us there is no problem big or small for you to handle for us. Please fill our heart, mind and soul with your leadership so that the troubling, painful and fearful circumstances of our lives lose their power. We can do all things through you. In Jesus name, amen.

Your Assignment:

Your assignment today is to write out a prayer that you will begin praying each day, just after you get up. A prayer that gives Jesus control of your day. A prayer that asks Him to direct your day, so you can stay on task for the things that He wants of you. Post this prayer in the comment section below, so we can be praying with you, as well.

If you are interested in joining us in our Women’s Ministry, please click the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage. Just follow the instructions on the form and hit submit. We’ll be happy to add you to one of our Online Bible Study Groups!

Godspeed!

Sarah

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Winning Him Without Words: “The Alone Factor”

October 2, 2012 by

 

We can depend on the Lord to show us where we are today in our marriage and where He wants us to be in the future. (Lynn Donovan, pg. 27)

My husband is not a believer. Although he supports me, he does not share my faith. I have come to accept his decision and respect his choice; however, there will always be a part of my life that I feel I cannot share with him.

And it hurts.

My belief in God began at a very young age. My relationship with Him began only two years ago; four years into my marriage. It was like a light bulb clicked on and life finally made sense to me. My friend invited me to a women’s retreat with her church. I accepted. And life has never been the same. But, my zeal for God seems to not make sense to my husband. At first, I had to hide my faith. I hid my Bible. When I was going to a Bible Study, I would tell him I was going to meet with some new friends from church. When we got in the car to go somewhere, I immediately changed the Christian radio station to the more mainstream station he prefers.

I had no idea how to act. I felt isolated and alone. There was this newfound blossoming of faith within me, but I could not share it with the one person who is closest to me. I felt like I was living a double life.

In fact, I still am.

I am still trying to figure out how to live this spiritually mismatched life. Although I have come a long way (I can now openly read my Bible in front of my husband and talk about my church activities without feeling uncomfortable), I still flounder. God still has much to teach me about honoring Him despite my circumstances.

“It matters not how we came to be in our crazy, mixed-up and unexpected marriage situation. What matters is that God desires that we honor our marriage commitment and fulfill our marriage vows through His power and His strength. We can’t do it on our own.” (Lynn, pg. 28)

Lynn’s message hit me at my core. God wants our marriages to be beautiful and thriving. He desires us to honor our commitment and fulfill our vows. And the only way we can do it is through HIS POWER and HIS STRENGTH.

We cannot do it on our own.

Did you catch that?

We cannot do it on our own.

And why would we want to?

We live for a Savior who desires to do life with us. That actually gives me a sense of peace. I am truly not alone in this. Our Heavenly Father is walking right alongside us, infusing us with power and strength every single day. He knows the aching of our hearts. He knows our longings. He wants the same thing for our husbands and for our marriages. He will not leave us flailing.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20(b), NIV)

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Let’s Pray: Lord, help us to see and to understand that we truly are not alone in our mismatched marriages and that you are right there, walking side-by-side with us through every step. Show us how to release the pain that binds us and causes anguish in our spirit for our unsaved spouse. Provide us with your power and your strength to get through each day and teach us to fix our eyes solely on You, the One responsible for our husband’s salvation. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray, Amen.

Your Assignment: Leave a comment below telling us one thing you can do for your spouse today to honor God and your marriage.

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For those who are reading this blog and would like to join the Bible study, we would love to invite you to join us!  Click here and fill out the form at the bottom of the page (you can also click the SIGN-UP link in the menu bar above to be taken to the form). It’s that simple!  We hope to see you soon!

Blessings to you,

Jennifer

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Winning Him Without Words … Our Journey Begins!

September 30, 2012 by

Good Morning!

My name is Christi Wilson, and I am the Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour and the Women’s Ministry Leader.  I, along with an amazing team of bloggers, will be leading you through this study, “Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in a Spiritually Unequal Marriage” by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller.

I want to welcome you to Girlfriends Coffee Hour!  We are a group of women all across the world who love the Lord Jesus, and are always looking for ways to better our walk with Him, and improve not only our selves, but our marriages, as well.

PLEASE be sure to read this blog post all the way through, as there are some very specific directions for you towards the end.

I can’t begin to tell you just how excited I am about this study!  Being involved in Women’s Online Bible studies for quite a while now, I have learned that many women across the world struggle being in spiritually unequal marriages!  It’s heartbreaking to hear some of their stories!

2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us to not be yoked to unbelievers. But what happens if you become a Christian AFTER you’re already yoked to an unbeliever?  You are going to love this book, if you are in this position today.  This book truly is an encouragement to all of us who are spiritually unequally yoked to an unbelieving spouse!

As I began reading this book, I wanted to write down all of the things I could find that would help explain to you what you can expect from this study.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it IS possible to thrive in a spiritually mismatched marriage!  The authors of this book Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller, have an amazing way of making you feel right at home with this study!  They are real, authentic, funny, and so encouraging!  I’m sure you will begin to love them just as much as I do, once you dive into this study with us!

So, with all that said, I want to tell you what you CAN expect from this study:

  • you will experience the wonder of Scripture as it comes to life in this book
  • truths that will rock your world
  • fresh perspective and optimism
  • no matter “how” you arrived in your spiritually unequal marriage, God’s plan for your marriage and your future are fantastic and may take turns that are often unexpected
  • you will find that God is the Master of redeeming our past and our pain to reveal  a life He has always desired for you to live
  • you will discover a hope so wild that you will thrive in your challenging marriage
  • you will find healing and wholeness
  • you will find hope and practical tips
  • you will discover the key principles to thriving in your marriage
  • you will find prayer, support, encouragement, accountability, motivation, love, from other women, just like you, who are struggling or have struggled and found freedom in their spiritually unequal marriage, through Christ Jesus

Wow!  Now can you see why we are so very excited to go on this journey with you!!??

Let’s talk about HOW this Online Bible Study works.  

1.  Each SUNDAY, you will want to come here for your reading assignment for the week.

2.  Every Monday through Friday, you will come here to read what we have blogged about for that days lesson.  Saturday’s will be a day filled with DIY projects, crafts, recipes, homemaking tips, and more!!  🙂

3.  You can leave your comments in the comment section of this blog, if you wish.  We actually like it when you do because it gives us feedback on how we’re doing!  So please do comment!  Remember, anything shared here on our blog is open to the public.  It is not private.  HOWEVER, you do have the option of commenting anonymously, as well.

4.  Then you will go to the Facebook Online Bible Study Discussion Group that you have been assigned to, to discuss that days lesson just a bit deeper than we do here on the blog.  THIS is where you will be able to share openly and honestly without anyone outside of that group reading what you’ve posted.   This Facebook Group is set up to be a SECRET Facebook group.  That means two things:  1) No one outside of this group can even find this group, and 2) Everything shared within the group cannot be seen by anyone outside of the group!  How cool is that, huh?  We want to make sure that we provide a place for you to share your heart without the concerns of a friend or family member seeing what you are posting!  We take every precaution to make this a SAFE place for you!

That’s it!  Pretty Simple, huh??  There are just TWO places that you will want to check every day:  HERE (our blog) and Your Facebook Group!  It can’t get much easier than that!! 🙂

In your Facebook Group, we have a team of women put together for you that will be there to pray with you, and encourage you along the way.  They are members of our Prayer Team, who have specifically asked to be placed in the Women’s Ministry group.  They have a heart for prayer, and for women’s ministry!  I’m sure you will grow to love them just as much as we do!!

We also have an AMAZING Team of Bloggers, who will be blogging about this study!  You are going to love these women, and their hearts for the Lord, and for Women’s Ministry!  We took quite a while looking for the perfect women to work with us on this journey, and we believe we have found the perfect women for this study!  We can’t wait for you to meet them!  Their names are Beverly McCormick, Donna Day, Jennifer Mlenczynski, and Sarah Boyer.  Amazing Women!!!

Well, now it’s time to actually begin this study!!  Below you will find your reading assignment for each day, Monday thru Friday, and who will be blogging for that day!  So, let’s begin!!

Your Reading Assignment:

Oct 1 – Matthew 28:20 –  Introduction / Know You’re Not Alone –  Beverly

Oct 2 – The Alone Factor – Jennifer

Oct 3 – Is it Really Possible to Thrive / Mismatched Marriage – Donna

Oct 4 –  Placing Christ on the Throne – Sarah

Oct 5 –  Jesus With “Skin On” / Discovery / Prayer –  Christi

DON’T FORGET TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

Tuesday, October 2nd, Conference Call Special Guest Speaker is:

Lynn Donovan

Co-Author of “Winning Him Without Words”

If you would like to take part in this call, please EMAIL US at:

Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THIS ONLINE BIBLE STUDY GROUP TO PARTICIPATE.

__________________

Let’s Pray:

Father, as we begin this new journey learning how to thrive in spiritually unequal marriages, we ask Lord for Your wisdom, direction, discernment, and guidance.  We ask Lord that You open each heart that is represented in this study; prepare that heart Lord to receive what YOU have for them.  Remove the veils Father, so we can each clearly see what Your intentions are for our marriages.

I pray Lord for each woman that is hurting in her spiritually unequal marriage.  I ask that You touch her Lord, and love on her.  Help us to minister words of love and encouragement to her Lord.  Help us to see her and her marriage Lord, through Your eyes. Father break our hearts for what breaks Yours, in this spiritually unequal marriage study.  Lord, I also pray that You show us through the first few chapters of this book that there is HOPE, and that it IS possible to thrive in these marriages!  That it is possible to get past the hurts and offenses of the past.  That it is possible to forgive and forge ahead in the plans that YOU have for us!

Lord, Your word tells us that You have plans for us.  Plans not to hurt us, but to prosper us, and to give us HOPE and a FUTURE!  Lord, I claim that now for each woman who has signed up for this online Bible study, and I thank You now Lord, for the mighty work You are doing in each life represented here.  Lord, we give You honor, glory, and all praise for the good work that You have begun in each us, and for continuing that work!!  In Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN!!

____________

If you have just stumbled across this website today, and you would like to join us for this Online Bible Study, please click on the “Sign-Up Here” button in the Menu Bar at the top of our website and follow the instructions.  We’ll get you placed in one of our discussion groups as soon as possible!

Be Blessed, 

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Lady In Waiting: Let’s Begin!

September 30, 2012 by

Good Morning!

My name is Jackie Chingawale, and I am the Singles Ministry Co-Leader of Girlfriends Coffee Hour, also known as GCH.  I want to welcome you to GCH! We are a group of women all across the world that love the Lord Jesus, and are always looking for ways to better our walk with Him, and improve not only our selves, but those around us, as well. PLEASE be sure to read this blog post all the way through, as there are some very specific directions for you towards the end. 

Today, we embark upon a new journey as we begin our first Singles Ministry Online Bible Study “Lady in Waiting – Becoming God’s Best While Waiting for Mr. Right by Jackie Kendall and Debbie Jones.

I can’t begin to tell you just how excited I am about this study! Being involved in Singles Ministry, I have learned that single women across the world face struggle with loneliness and finding their place in a society which tends to give emphasis on women based on their marital status.  A single woman is perceived as someone who is not complete!
As I began reading this book, I wanted to write down all of the things I could find that would help explain to you what you can expect from this study.

  • Jackie Kendall and Debbie Jones want to direct your attention toward the One who really understands the longing of her heart.  Too many women grow up believing that the inconsolable ache in her heart is for “a man.” To love a man, get married, and then have children is thought to be the only script that will satisfy her heart’s deepest longing. But no man, woman, or child can appease this longing; it can only be satisfied by the ultimate Bridegroom, Christ Jesus. This book nudges a woman closer to God, while acknowledging any longing she may have to be loved and cherished by a man.
  • You will discover that Lady in Waiting is not about finding the right man, but being the right woman.
  • The focus will be on the ten qualities of a godly woman that are found in the Book of Ruth. These qualities will not only enhance your love relationship with your heavenly Bridegroom, but also guide you as a single woman, guard you while you date, support you in marriage, and comfort you if you are ever widowed or divorced.
  • Lady in Waiting goes beyond pop psychology and clings to the steadfast foundation of God’s Word. Creatively integrating biblical truth with an honest evaluation of the struggles facing today’s single woman.
  • You will find hope and practical illustrations to apply to everyday challenges in being God’s woman.
  • You will find prayer, support, encouragement, accountability, motivation, love, from other women, just like you, who are currently single or divorced or married and are willing to share how they face each day with the help of Christ Jesus.

Wow! Now can you see why we are so very excited to go on this journey with you!!??
____________

Let’s talk about HOW this Online Bible Study works.
1. Each SUNDAY, you will want to come here for your reading assignment for the week.

2. Every Monday through Friday, you will come here to read what we have blogged about for that day’s lesson.

3. You can leave your comments in the comment section of this blog, if you wish. We actually like it when you do because it gives us feedback on how we’re doing! So please do comment! Remember, anything shared here on our blog is open to the public. It is not private. HOWEVER, you do have the option of commenting anonymously, as well.

4. Then you will go to the Facebook Online Bible Study Discussion Group where you have been assigned, to discuss that day’s lesson just a bit deeper than we do here on the blog. THIS is where you will be able to share openly and honestly without anyone outside of that group reading what you’ve posted. This Facebook Group is set up to be a SECRET Facebook group. That means two things: 1) No one outside of this group can even find this group, and 2) Everything shared within the group cannot be seen by anyone outside of the group! How cool is that, huh? We want to make sure that we provide a place for you to share your heart without the concerns of a friend or family member seeing what you are posting! We take every precaution to make this a SAFE place for you!
That’s it! Pretty Simple, huh?? There are just TWO places that you will want to check every day: HERE (our blog) and Your Facebook Group! It can’t get much easier than that!! 

In your Facebook Group, we have a team of women put together for you that will be there to pray with you, and encourage you along the way. They are members of our Prayer Team, who have specifically asked to be placed in the Women’s Ministry group. They have a heart for prayer, and for women’s ministry! I’m sure you will grow to love them just as much as we do!!

We also have an AMAZING Team of Bloggers, who will be blogging about this study! You are going to love these women and their hearts for the Lord, and for Singles Ministry! We took quite a while looking for the perfect women to work with us on this journey, and we believe we have found the perfect women for this study! We can’t wait for you to meet them! Their names are Michelle Graziano my Co-leader, Tonya Ellison, Diane Meyers and I. Amazing Women!!!

Well, now it’s time to actually begin this study!! Below you will find your reading assignment for each day, Monday thru Friday, and who will be blogging for that day! So, let’s begin!!

Your Reading Assignment:

October 1: Lady of Reckless Abandonment / Alabaster Box – Michelle
October 2:   Ruth’s Reckless Abandonment – Jackie
October 3: New Friends / New Surroundings / New Faith – Tonya
October 4: Dividends from a High Place / Dividends from a High Place – Michelle
October 5: The Missing Puzzle Piece / Satisfied by a Heavenly Fiancé – Diane
October 6: Fun with Shauna

_____________

DON’T FORGET TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

Monday, October 1st, Conference Call Special Guest Speaker is:

Lois Breit

Lois has an amazing testimony of how God took her mess and turned it into a message!!  She is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and works as a U.S. Missionary to Single Moms.  She speaks at Single Mom events for all denominations across the United States and teaches leadership workshops to help better equip the Church in reaching the single parent families of their community.

If you would like to take part in this call, you must sign-up for this Online Bible Study!  You can do so by clicking on the “Sign-Up Here” button that is located in the Menu Bar at the top of our webpage.

YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THIS ONLINE BIBLE STUDY GROUP TO PARTICIPATE.
__________________

Let’s Pray:
Father, as we begin this new journey learning how to become God’s best while waiting for Mr. Right, we ask Lord for Your wisdom, direction, discernment, and guidance. We ask Lord that You open each heart that is represented in this study; prepare that heart Lord to receive what YOU have for them. Remove the veils Father, so we can each clearly see what Your intentions are for our lives.
I pray Lord for each woman that is feeling lonely and abandoned in her journey as a single woman. I ask that You touch her Lord, and love on her. Help us to minister words of love and encouragement to her Lord. Help us to see her Lord, through Your eyes.

Father break our hearts for what breaks Yours, in this Lady in Waiting study. Lord, I also pray that You show us through the first few chapters of this book that there is HOPE, and that it IS possible to thrive in these marriages! That it is possible to get past the hurts and offenses of the past. That it is possible to forgive and forge ahead in the plans that YOU have for us!

Lord, Your word tells us that You have plans for us. Plans not to hurt us, but to prosper us, and to give us HOPE and a FUTURE! Lord, I claim that now for each woman who has signed up for this online Bible study, and I thank You now Lord, for the mighty work You are doing in each life represented here. Lord, we give You honor, glory, and all praise for the good work that You have begun in each us, and for continuing that work!! In Jesus’ Precious Name, AMEN!!
____________

We would love to invite you to join us for this Online Bible Study!   The Sign-Up button is located at the top of our website page, in the Menu section. Click on that button and follow the directions. It’s that simple! We hope to see you soon!

Be Blessed,


Jackie

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Lady In Waiting …. Starts SUNDAY, Sept 30th!

September 28, 2012 by

 

Begins Sunday, Sept 30th!

To join this amazing study, click on the Sign-Up Button at the top of our webpage, complete the sign-up form and hit submit.  As soon as we get your request, you will be placed inside one of our Secret Facebook Online Bible Study Groups, where you will meet other single ladies who are looking to become God’s BEST while waiting for Mr. Right!

We hope you have enjoyed meeting our blogging staff this week!  I believe God has given us an amazing team of women who truly have  a heart for Jesus, and for Singles Ministry!

COME BACK HERE ON SUNDAY,

where we will begin with your Weekly Reading Assignment!

Have a GREAT Weekend, and we’ll see you Sunday!

Christi Wilson

Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour

Filed Under: Singles Tagged With:

Meet Sarah Boyer — Women’s Ministry Blogger

September 28, 2012 by

 

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Sarah Boyer.  Sarah is one of our new bloggers to the Women’s Ministry.  I hope you will enjoy her writing as much as I do!  We’re very pleased to have her here with us at GCH!  <3 Christi 

____________________

Hello! My name is Sarah Boyer and it is an honor to be a part of Girlfriends Coffee Hour! I’d like to tell you a little bit about myself.

 

I am married to my high school sweetheart, Monte. We dated for 8 years and have been married for 16 and still madly in love. Our marriage is a great testament to God because you can name any trial or tribulation and we’ve been through it, but only thru His help!

We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters. Kelsey is 13 and Ashton is 11. They are both very athletic, artistic and have hearts of gold. Their activities keep US very busy, but we love every minute of it!

 

For the past 13 years I have run a daycare from my home. It has been a wonderful career because I love children and it has also provided me a way to stay home with my own girls, but yet contribute income! As a hobby, I keep up a blog called simplysjb. I write about my day to day life as well as certain passions I have, such as the bully problem in our school systems nationwide.

 

Women’s ministry is important to me because I think it is important for women to support women in a positive way. Back that support up with scripture and I truly believe you can change a woman’s life. In my own experience I have two very spiritual friends who have helped me through difficulties by offering prayers over me and my situation and then pointing me to a specific verse to meditate on. The friendly support is wonderful, but it’s His word that is what always helps my situation turn from one of despair into one of hope.

Through these friends I’ve realized that nothing is impossible as long as you have faith. I believe it’s now my turn to help others find the answers to their problems in God’s word.

 

I try to be a very positive person and I love to be of help to others. I am hoping that by being a blogger and leader at GCH I will be able to reach more women; wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends every day and help them to see that there is always an answer in God’s word and a positive attitude.

 

I’m looking forward to getting to know all my sisters in Christ better and developing lifelong friendships here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour!

 

________________

We are thrilled to have Sarah join our Women’s Ministry Blogging Team!!

Sarah Boyer lives in Wayne, Ne. with her husband and two daughters. She is a self-published author of two Christian novellas, Follow A Certain Path and its sequel, Follow My Lead.

 

Sarah loves to write, make slideshows and all things retro. But most of all she loves being a wife and mother. During the week she runs an in home daycare.

 

Sarah has been involved in her church’s Sunday school and vacation bible school programs. She finds inspiration from women like Joyce Meyer and Beth Moore because of their down to earth presentation of God’s word and the way they apply it to everyday living.

 

You can read Sarah’s personal blog at www.simplysjb.wordpress.com.

 

——————————-

If you are interested in joining our next Women’s Online Bible Study

“Winning Him Without Words” by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller

Please send us an email at:

Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

We wills end you all the details you need to get registered.

 

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meet Jennifer Mleczynski — Women’s Ministry Blogger

September 27, 2012 by

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Jennifer Mlycenski.  Jennifer is one of our new bloggers to the Women’s Ministry.  I hope you will enjoy her writing as much as I do!  We’re very pleased to have her here with us at GCH!  <3 Christi

____________

Hi ladies! I am thrilled to be joining you here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour! So, grab your beverage of choice, sit back, and take a peek into my journey to GCH!

 Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found.

Was blind, but now I see.

I was raised to believe in God, but I did not understand what it meant to have a relationship with Him until two years ago. At 24 years of age, my doctor informed me that I would not be able to have a biological child. For a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, I was dumbfounded. Every dream of my future always included a husband and children. What had I done that was so awful that God would take this from me? My world shattered and crumbled around me. I entered a depression that consumed me for eight long years, which also included panic attacks and severe anxiety. I became a shell of my former happy-go-lucky self. Why did God hate me?

But God, in His Amazing Grace, found me right where I was. And He brought me home. He whispered the sweet words that I longed to hear. “I love you, my child. I have a plan and a purpose for your life. Trust in me.” He planted me in a church family with people who surrounded me with love. He countered every negative thought the enemy planted in my mind with positive biblical truth. He turned a woman who felt like a failure as a woman into a woman who stands tall, without fear or hopelessness; a woman who fully trusts in the Lord to fulfill His plan for her life.

The Lord helped me to see that I have a plan and a purpose to fulfill on this Earth. I may not understand the Lord’s plan this side of Heaven, but I trust His plan above any vision I could have for myself. He promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans are for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.

So I grabbed on to Him and haven’t let go.

You might think my story ends there, but it is only just beginning (and honestly, just that part of my story could be a twelve part series!). The Lord placed me in women’s ministry and for a while I thought we must have gotten our signals crossed. Although my heart aches for women and I want them to experience the joy, peace, and love of our mighty God – I am a writer! What do women’s ministry and writing have to do with each other?

Well, as God politely told me – a lot. As a blogger for several years, I was tasked with starting a blog for our women’s ministry. I learned that words, filtered through God’s truth, could do something – they wield power to impact lives. So, I began blogging, albeit a bit sporadically. My own fears got in my way – the self-confidence regarding my ability, the thought that these women actually know me and are reading what I write, and my own stubbornness to fully submit to God’s will for me. I mean, can writing actually be a ministry? (Yes, I actually asked my women’s ministry leader this question at one point and she point blank laughed at me!). I started a personal, anonymous faith blog so I could pour my heart out there, without anyone knowing it was me. I loved the anonymity of it! It was freeing! It was comfortable. I was safe.

But God isn’t in the business of keeping us comfortable.

As it is written:

My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

 so my ways are higher than your ways

 and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

(Isaiah 55:8-9, NLT)

As I continued in my writing ministry, I began to feel restless. I felt a bit lost with my writing. I wasn’t sure if I should be blogging. God had been quietly whispering for me to write my story, so I was pondering the writing of a book, too. I was very unsure where to step next. I took my questions to God.

And He knew, of course. He is always faithful to answer our prayers. And He spoke very clearly into my life on this.

He brought me to the Winning Him Without Words bible study. I was waiting for an online study for this book for a very long time, so I was very excited to find it offered here at GCH. A couple of days after I signed up for the study, I saw a request for a blogger to join Girlfriends Coffee Hour Women’s Ministry team.

Now, I am someone who likes it when God is very explicit and clear. If He would write things in the sky, that would be even better. But, this was very clear to me. I needed to pursue this and see where the Lord took me.

The Lord worked it all out and here I am – a blogger for GCH Women’s Ministry. I feel an unbelievable sense of peace and happiness about where He has placed me, although I am not so anonymous anymore! I am excited to begin this study with all of you. I look forward to learning with you and from you. I know that we will gain much from this study.

May you be blessed abundantly today,
Jennifer

_____________________

We are thrilled to have Jennifer on our Leadership Blogging Team!!

Jennifer lives in upstate New York with her husband, Shawn, and three dogs. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology and is currently employed full-time as an Educational Grants Specialist. She is actively involved with her local church, serving on the women’s ministry leadership team and maintaining her church’s website.

Jennifer grew up believing in God and attending church, but fully gave her life to Christ in 2010 after nine long years of walking in darkness after an infertility diagnosis shattered her sense of self-worth and identity as a woman. She is happy to say that God rescued her and showed her that her sense of worth can be found in Him alone!

Jennifer loves to read, write, blog, watch movies, and play board games. She has also recently discovered a love of running through the completion of the Couch-to-5K program. She looks forward to continuing to run the race God has set before her, with endurance, eyes fixed solely on Jesus! (Hebrews 12:1-2)

___________________

If you are interested in joining us for our upcoming Women’s Online Bible Study

“Winning Him Without Words”  by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller

Beginning October 1, 2012

Please send us an email at

Womens@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

and we will send you all the details you need to get registered!

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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