December 25, 2024

A Pure Heart

September 26, 2012 by

 

A Pure Heart

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I’m sure you’ve all heard this verse, and maybe you even know the song… But what does this really mean? And how do we achieve a pure heart?

In Proverbs 4 verse 23 it says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” When it says “heart”, I think it means to be cautious of your thoughts, words, and the things you seek after. Notice in the verse in Psalms that GOD is the one who is creating the pure heart. Apart from the Lord, we are anything but pure. But because of JESUS, we have the privilege and the opportunity to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. We can walk in righteousness and purity, because we have been made righteous and pure through Jesus’ sacrifice.

This also takes some work on our part. Hear me when I say this, you do NOT have to work for Jesus’ love. You have NOTHING to earn. But it is our responsibility, as believers who have been made new, to walk in freedom from the enemy. It is our responsibility to live a life that is holy, so that people will see Jesus in our actions and will want to know Him.

Here are some things you need to think about….

The movies & television shows you watch:

  • Do they portray things that are pleasing to the Lord?
  • Or do the story lines and actions that take place in the movie reveal things that are impure?

The music you listen to:

  • Do the songs exalt the name of Jesus?
  • Do they celebrate the things He has done?
  • Or do the words of the songs reflect the things God asks us to stay away from?

The words you use:

  • Are they encouraging?
  • Or are they sarcastic and intended to hurt people?

Girls… we HAVE to be realistic here. We must take practical steps in order to FEED our spirit and STARVE our flesh.

In order for the Lord to reveal to you what it means to have a pure heart, you have to spend time with Him. I know that life is busy, especially in junior high and high school. I promise you, it will NOT kill you to wake up an hour early to spend time with Jesus. Here are some other things you can do throughout the day to spend time with our Lord and Savior:

  • Whenever you have a free minute in class, pull out your devotional book.
  • Say little prayers throughout the day.
  • Be in communication with Jesus. He LOVES to hear from you, and He LOVES to speak to you, too.
  • Find some good worship music. I listen to worship music all the time. It helps you fix your gaze on Jesus, to fix your heart on Him.
  • Get in the habit of reading your Bible every day.
  • Put notecards inside your locker with lyrics to a worship song or a Bible verse so you can be encouraged throughout the day.

The more time you spend doing things that remind your spirit to worship, and the more that you do to fix your heart on Him, the more you will see your heart beginning to transform into a pure one.

Pray with me~

Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for redemption, and thank You for allowing me to have a relationship with You. I ask, Lord, that You would begin to change my heart, and that You would reveal the things in my life that I need to lay down in order to be more like You. Give me wisdom and discernment to know what You say is best for my life. I love You, and I worship You. Amen

~Jordan

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Our secret fellowship group on Facebook  is OPEN, so join us to make some new friends who love the Lord!!!! :)

Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st! We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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Resolution for Women: Choose Wisely

September 24, 2012 by

Ladies…. if you have read today’s resolution you know that it is imperative that you ask yourself the following questions…

  • Are you making today’s decisions with tomorrow’s impact in mind?
  • When you’re arranging your priorities and forming your habits, do you think about your children, your grandchildren, about the kind of character they’ll remember about you and inherit from you?
  • When you spend your money, or sport your fashion sense, or speak your piece, or spare your time, does it ever occur to you that you;re not just making a choice for yourself, in the moment?

The types of resolutions you choose to make each and every day not only matter RIGHT NOW, but they keep on mattering because they are your LEGACY!

Proverbs 13:22

A good (woman) leaves an inheritance.

Last Sunday my family and I were having dinner and my 14-year-old daughter Vicky announced to everyone that *I* am her God story.I was blown away. She said that through watching me, she has learned how to have an intimate relationship with the Lord and she doesn’t think she would be this close to Him if I was not in her life.

I am not her biological mother. I have been her mother for the past 10 years and have been walking with Jesus for only that last 6 of those years. I have yelled, I have screamed, I have been mean, I have gotten frustrated and I have not always been the best example. I HAVE BEEN HUMAN.

BUT….. that isn’t what she credits me for. By the grace of God, she chooses to credit me for teaching her to pray and walk with our Lord and Savior. I can’t think of anything more humbling…. can you? I can only pray that her brothers will one day be able to say the same thing. They have all seen me INTENTIONALLY spend my time every day working to be BETTER in all that I am and all that I do.

They see me serve. They see me pray. They see me say “yes” to God when I want to say “no.” They hear me encourage and they see me be a good steward of my time and other resources. They see me work hard. They see me mess up and they see me repent. They see me give and they feel my love.

I am telling you all of this for you to see that leaving a legacy does not mean that you are perfect by any means. It means that you purpose to be your BEST and live intentionally with the future in mind. It means that it’s not about YOU… and if it has been in the past, you can change that NOW and be a difference maker for you and your children… and every other life you make contact with. It is not too late. Please, let your legacy begin now <3

Let’s pray:

Lord, I ask that you be with each and every one of us as we determine to start this day anew with a fresh heart and spirit and intentionally look to the future in all our actions. We want to be difference makers, Father, and we desperately need your help in order to impact our children the way you intend us to. Help us leave a legacy like only we can, God! We thank you for this perfect provision! In Your Son’s matchless name we pray, amen <3

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Don’t forget!!! Our next Women’s Online Bible Study starts next week on October 1, 2012!!  We will begin an awesome study by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller, “Winning Him Without Words…10 Keys to Thriving in a Spiritually Mismatched Marriage“.  We are VERY excited about this study!!  This study will end on December 13th.  I hope you will join us!!  To sign up for this study, please email us at

WOMENS@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

We will send you all the details to get registered.  All you will need is a copy of the book, a pen/pencil, your bible, and a journal (if you like).  Each day, Monday through Friday, we will blog about this study RIGHT HERE on our website!  Then you will go to our Facebook Discussion Group, where we have set up a SECRET Facebook Group, so you can share your thoughts privately with just the women in that group.  The Facebook Groups are an awesome way to let your hair down, be yourself, be real, and not have to worry about the whole world reading your thoughts!  Plus, it’s a GREAT way to meet other Christian like-minded women and build friendships all over the world!  Give it a try!

Many blessings,

Megan 🙂

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Are YOU God’s daughter?

September 23, 2012 by

 

In preparing our hearts for our Bible study we will be beginning next week, we thought it would be good to take this week to talk about all the things that make us a daughter of the most-high King! THIS  is the schedule for our blogs this week….

I’m excited for you to read what Diane will be sharing with you tomorrow here on our blog about how being a godly girl isn’t about doing a list of things… it is about being obedient to Christ in everyday life and showing His love through every interaction!

Right now you can be obedient to Christ by doing things like obeying your parents and other authority in your life. Teresa will be sharing more with you about that on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Jordan will be talking with you about having a pure heart. What Does it Mean to Have a Pure Heart? Well, purity means cleanness from foulness or dire and Daniel 12:10 says, “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined.” Purity really begins in our hearts and thoughts. Pure daughters must learn to control their thoughts. Sometimes, it will be hard. To control your thoughts, it helps to focus on God by praying, thinking of Bible verses and hymns. This is a time when the Bible verses you’ve memorized really help; think of Psalm 19:11: “Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Tonya can’t wait to share with you on Thursday about your attitude! Is your attitude right, or are you just going through the motions? How we act reflects the attitude of our hearts. “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. ” (Proverbs 27:19, ESV)

On Friday, our new blogger, Edwina, will be sharing with you about beginning anew! Let’s start this Bible study with open hearts and fresh eyes ready to hear from our Lord and Saviour!

And on Saturday…. Coleen will be continuing our series on prayer. I hope you enjoyed her 1st post in this series yesterday! I really loved it! 🙂

Friends, I am so excited to see how God is going to work though each and every single one of us through this study! Have you signed up yet? There is still time!!! All you need to do is email us at Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com and let us know you’re interested! THEN… we will give you access to our super safe and secret Facebook groups where you can meet and hang out with other teen girls who love the Lord just like you do!

You can like our public Facebook community page here:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/GCHdecaf

Let’s pray…

Dear Lord, thank you for each and every one of your daughters reading this blog today. Father, we are believing You for BIG things in their lives through diligently seeking You in such an intentional way through GCH:decaf. We pray that You bless every household and every precious heart involved. We love you, Lord, and we thank you! In Your Son’s mighty name we pray, amen <3

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Saturday Prayer with Coleen

September 22, 2012 by

Lord, I thank You for Your promise that as we draw near to You, You will   draw near to us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpdAk7CG3DI

Be quiet. Sit still.  Draw   close.  Dwell in His presence.

Rest in His love.  Listen as He speaks.  Cling to His words. And remember, God speaks to those He loves….

What a privilege we have that the Almighty God, He Who is mighty to save,   the Creator of the heavens and the earth would speak with us!  That He   would draw us to Himself, bringing us into a tender and close relationship   with Himself!

Think about the importance of God’s words.  With His words He   spoke all of Creation into existence.

And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse   in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the   waters..and it was so.

Then God said, “Let   the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the   dry land appear” and it was so.

Then God said, “Let the earth   sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth   bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them;” and it was so.

Then God said, “Let there be lights   in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them   be for signs   and for seasons   and for days and years;” and it was   so.

Then God said, “Let the waters teem   with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth…God created the   great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters   swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind;  

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living   creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth   after their kind”; and it was so.

Then God said, “Let Us   make man   in Our image, according to Our likeness…God created man in   His own image, in the image of God He created him; male   and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and   multiply….”

(excerpts from Genesis   1:3-28)

This same God, YHWH, the Creator   desires to speak to us!  He wants to speak words—His words—that will   heal us, set us free, comfort us, bless us.  Throughout the Scriptures we   read often of God speaking through prophets and holy men words that had   much impact.  Words that brought life…sometimes death.  God   communicated His heart through His words to His people.

And the Lord said to   Moses,

Say to Aaron and his sons, This is the way you shall   bless the Israelites. Say to them,

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and   keep you;

The   Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious   (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;

The   Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace   (tranquility of heart and life continually).

(Numbers 6:22-26)

God was   speaking to Moses the words that the priests were to speak to the Nation   of Israel  to communicate to them the blessing of God.  These words   had life.

You have said, ‘Seekmy face.’  My heart says to you, ‘Your face, Lord, do I seek’ ”  (Psalms   27:8).

As you seek Him,   know that He will be found.  Your God desires to care for you, to bless   you, to provide for you.  And He wants to speak to you…take time to   listen.  < 3

Love,

Coleen

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Our secret fellowship group on Facebook  is OPEN, so join us to make some new friends who love the Lord!!!! :)

Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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God: The Same Yesterday and Today…

September 20, 2012 by

… and He wants to connect with YOU!!

Hello GCH: Decaf Girls!!! I am so excited to be walking alongside you on this journey! I want to share with you that the God you hear about and have read about in your Bibles, is the same today as He was a long time ago. He reaches out to us in so many ways.

I can sense who He is whenever I am by water…any large body of water.  The water is like God in a sense. The water is soothing and comforting. The sounds of the water brushing up against the bank is as if God is reaching out for me to tell me that everything is going to be okay and that He is here for me.  Water is also a source of cleansing which reminds me that He washed away all of my sins and I am a new creation in Him. He loved us that much to send His only Son to die for our ugly sins. He loves us so much!

Whenever I am around nature I quickly think of the trees, grass, creeks, and cool breeze.  When the wind is blowing it is as if God is speaking to me Himself. You feel the wind but you can’t see it. It is like that with God. You can feel Him but you can’t see Him…but for me, I see Him when I look at my teens, my face in the morning, through my friends on Facebook and Twitter.

God is so smart that He has allowed us to create ways in today’s time to see Him. The Bible on the internet, scriptures and quotes that some of your friends may place on their pages, text messages that some of your friends may send that may be the scripture of the day or even our own GCH women who place daily devotions on their Facebook pages.

God desires to be a part of every aspect of your lives. He doesn’t want to be left out. He wants to be included. Maybe the next time you are on Facebook or sending a text message to a friend…you could send a prayer, scripture, or inspirational quote for encouragement, or even a smiley J. Those are a few ways that we can include God in ALL that we do. You will be sharing Him with others.

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He LOVES you my dear precious friends and He desires to be connected with you and in all that you do.

He is still the same God today as He was yesterday!

Love you bunches,

Tonya <3

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Remember… we are giving away 5 copies of the book for our very first Bible study A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon!!! How do you enter to win?!?!?!?

1. Tell your friends about the Bible study! You can call, txt, email, FB, etc…. any of your best girlfriends that YOU think would benefit from this online Bible study!

2. Have them send an email to teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com to sign up for the Bible study and have them give us YOUR name as referring them.

3. The 5 people who refer the most people to the Bible study WINS a FREE copy of the book!

Our secret fellowship group on Facebook  is OPEN, so join us to make some new friends who love the Lord!!!! 🙂

Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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Tonya’s Journey to GCH:decaf!

September 16, 2012 by

Introducing……

GCH: decaf blogger Tonya Elliott

I have always known who God was. I can remember as far back as 4 years old, kneeling beside my bed, with my mom and dad on each side of me, teaching me how to say my prayers…you know how it goes: “Now I lay be down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…”. If my mother and father didn’t do anything else, they made sure that my sisters and I had some form of concept of who God was. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6.

You have to understand that my mother and father weren’t avid church goers, but my mother would consistently place my sister and me on the church bus every Sunday to go to church. In a way, I am so glad that she did that, because those wonderful ladies helped introduce Jesus to my sister and I more and more…more seeds were planted…”I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:6). Thank you Jesus for the lovely women of Christ who took time out to plant seeds, while others watered and I can now definitely see God’s increase! God is awesome like that!

I spent most of my elementary and middle school years traveling back and forth between Germany and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Ft. Campbell, Kentucky was my father’s home base. He was a Sergeant First Class in the Army…a Mess hall Cook. I LOVED my life growing up on the many military bases. What my sisters and I didn’t know was that our father’s drinking problem was starting to affect his work, and he was making more mistakes with his cooking.

I can remember coming home from school in the 8th grade, to my mom packing our belongings. I was used to packing and moving, but I knew that my dad was not scheduled to be transferred anywhere else, so I asked her what was going on. She replied that we had to move because my dad was being discharged because of his drinking. I was devastated! My world as I had always known it was coming to a complete halt!

How does a person…a young teenage girl comprehend all of that? To be honest with you, I had a difficult time trying to adjust to the news. I was angry, I was frustrated, sad, confused, all of the above. We ended up moving to Memphis, Tennessee, which was where my parents were from. We moved with my mother’s family and the saga began. I won’t go into details about all of that, but I will say that it was a very emotional time in my life. We went from having everything we wanted, to not having anything at all…well; at least we still had each other, right?

During this time, I met a lady who changed my WHOLE life around! She was my Young Life leader who would take the second baton of my Christian  growth and help me to run with it. She took the time to get to know me, share with me in my time of hurt, frustration, confusion, and anger, through the love of Jesus Christ. She took what was a horrible time in my life and helped me to refocus everything in my life towards Jesus. She loved me in spite of what was going on in my life.

Did my dad ever stop drinking, I am sure that you are asking? Unfortunately no, he did not, but our relationship got better. I loved my dad unconditionally, even through all of the hurt and disappointments. I learned to see him through the eyes of Christ…and believe me, once I truly became a Christian, that wasn’t hard to do at all! My dad passed away in November of 1998 and I miss him so much, but I know that God has him in His care. I have learned so much since then.

Today I am a Young Women’s Coordinator for a ministry called Red Zone, which is under the Memphis leadership Foundation umbrella, here in Memphis. I work with youth in the inner city Memphis area. I work primarily with middle school aged youth, but I have been working with the youth in that particular area for such a long time, that I have youth who are now grown and some married. I know that this is what God was calling me to do. He wanted me to go through what I went through, so that I could see that trying Jesus really does work and that He could work for the youth too.

I was married for 14 years and I have been divorced for 2 years, and I have 4 AWESOME children of my own, who have faced all kinds of odds, which I will share with you a later date. Trinicia (19), Jonathon (15), Justin (14), and Carlia (12).

Smiling is my thing! It is one of my ways of encouraging others. I am crazy enough to believe that if you share your smile with others, especially those who may be having a bad day, you just might brighten up their day!

I found Girlfriends Coffee Hour and it has been the BEST thing that I have ever done! GCH has brought life back into my world, and I feel alive again! My desire is to come alongside teen girls through this new ministry and walk with them and mentor them and share with them the love of Christ.

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Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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Tonya Elliott is a 40 year old Memphis native…  but she was raised all over the world, Germany, Kentucky, Tennessee, etc…Her father was in the military for 16 years. She has 4 beautiful children, Trinicia (19), Jonathon (15), Justin (14), and Carlia (12).

Tonya met Christ when she was 7 years old and really began to walk along beside Him when she was 14 years old. She has always had a heart for youth ministry! She currently works for a faith-based organization called Memphis Leadership Foundation as a Young Women’s Coordinator, working with middle school aged girls, and she loves it!

She was married at 23 and divorced at 37 years old, but she is thankful for that part of her journey because it has helped to shape her into the woman of God that she is today.

She loves to read, read, and read!! Tonya also loves to learn new things and is currently seeking her degree in Human Services. She is eager to see where God is leading her.

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we just LOVE that Tonya is serving with us on our Leadership Team AND with your precious daughters! Please take a moment to leave her a comment and let her know how happy you are that she is answering God’s call eith GCH:decaf!!

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Coleen’s Journey to GCH:decaf!

September 15, 2012 by

Introducing……

GCH: decaf blogger Coleen Hayden

I love this J.J. Heller song.  Take a listen…or sing along.  Wait!  Maybe you should get a tissue or two first…you ARE going to cry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Kf51ulLEM

Who will love me for me

Not for what i have done or what i will become

Who will love me for me

‘Cause nobody has shown me what love

What love really means

 

<Big sigh!>  wiping away the tears that have splashed onto the keyboard, I pray, “Please, Lord, help me to love ’em!  Please give me YOUR heart!  Lord, please show me how!”

…and I struggle, wondering how I can possibly help a girl living in Montana trying to maintain her purity. “What can *I* really do,” I thought, “for a teenager in Texas who really doesn’t think she is smart enough to pursue honors classes and go to college?”  How can I even begin to be Jesus’ hands and feet to a young lady in Virginia whose parents are divorcing and her heart is being torn apart?  I don’t know how to even start to help a girl in LA see her beautiful self through God’s eyes not the world’s viewpoint… and what do *I* possibly have to say that could bring peace to the heart of a teenager in New Jersey, where gangs and violence make her scared to go to school?

 

Then I remember… I can PRAY!!! For them, with them, over them, and I can show them in the Scriptures that THEY have access to their heavenly Father.  I can teach them how to lay down their worries, fears, cares, and concerns at the feet of Jesus.  I can help them to recognize that God is always listening. I can inspire them to believe that God hears and answers.  I can encourage them to voice their own prayers…simply and with faith.  And, even from a distance, I can pray with them and show them God’s love. This, THIS is why I have committed to GCH: decaf.

 

Thousands of girls all over the world have hearts that yearn to feel safe; to be cared for and wanted ‘just because’ They want to be filled with peace & joy, they desire to feel pretty, and they need to know that who they are is enough.  I know Who knows exactly how to meet their need—my Lord, Jesus Christ. All that they need, want, yearn for, and desire can be met through Jesus Christ. He is the only Way to His Father, the Almighty God.  GCH: decaf is a place to come and meet my Savior, to learn about Him and His Father, to find a relationship with Jesus.  And, if you are privileged to already know this awesome Jesus…to build on and grow in and thrive in your relationship with Him!

 

Perhaps GCH: decaf is the place where you, if that is your heart, can come and be encouraged.  Maybe Girlfriends Coffee Hour is the place where moms and daughters can have a meeting place where they can grow together.  Possibly GCH: decaf is where you will learn about God’s love and all that He provided when He sent His Son to die for all mankind.  GCH: decaf, for me, is where love and compassion and acceptance are found.  Come visit us at GCH: decaf and see if you agree.

 

My name is Coleen Hayden and, with God in Christ in me, I will…

 

Love you for y.o.u…..

Not for what you have done…or have not done

Not for what you will–or won’t–become

I will love YOU just simply because you’re YOU

and, by God’s grace,

we will each be reminded of what love…what love REALLY means.

God loves you…and I do, too. <3

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Please “like” our Facebook Community page here to stay up-to-date on all we are doing for teens over here at GCH: decaf: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.

Be sure to email our lead barista, Megan, if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions about the study or this ministry. She would love to hear from you!  Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .

Our first study will start October 1st!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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Coleen Hayden enjoys the privilege of being a housewife.  She and Robert have been married for 18 years and currently live in the Capital District area of New York state. They have one beautiful daughter, Kassia, who is married to the best son-in-law, Matt, and their marriage has produced 3 sweet grandchildren—Elijah, Kaylie Joy, and Levi.  They thankfully live close to these sweethearts and spend much joyful time together.  Her extended family includes 7 siblings and their spouses, 19 nieces/nephews, her mom, dad and step-mom, and her step-granny.

Coleen has a testimony of God’s awesome grace & mercy towards her when Jesus captured her heart 31 years ago.  She was an unwed soon-to-be mother with little hope, but God had a plan for her life and made a way for her and drew her to Him.  She is still growing and changing and, by God’s grace, becoming more like the image of God that He made her to be.

The Haydens have led a home Bible fellowship each week for over 5 years.  The folks who join them share a meal, Bible study, sing praises to God and pray for one another. Coleen also facilitates a womens’ small group which meets in her home.

Coleen has been blessed by God with gifts of intercession, hospitality, and encouragment.  There is not too much that makes her happier than living out Titus 2:4. Well, maybe her grandbabies…. 🙂

Coleen and Robert are thankful that God has allowed them to minister together through praise & worship.

Coleen’s hobbies include sewing, cooking, and playing the piano…. and if you need someone to pray with, she would love to do so!

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As you can imagine, we are so happy to have Coleen working with us on our Leadership Team AND with your precious daughters! Please take a moment to leave her a comment and let her know how happy you are that she is answering God’s call!

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Diane’s Journey to GCH: decaf

September 12, 2012 by

Introducing……

GCH: decaf blogger Diane Meyers

Have you ever had a desire that God has put on your heart that is so strong that you honestly feel like you are going to just die if you do not do something about that very desire?  That may seem a little extreme, but for the last year or so I have been feeling that do-or-die feeling!

At this time the Lord had saved me, healed me, and completely restored me from an abusive relationship that I was miserably trapped in for three years.   I was so beyond thankful to the Lord for the miracle He has done in my life (still am!) that I now wanted to help every single person I came into contact with find Jesus’ love for themselves.  I figured out what I thought was the best way to go about doing this.  I worked myself to complete exhaustion.  I remember hearing someone say that we cannot just do things and expect God to bless us… we have to go where God is ever so quietly calling us to go.  When I heard that, it was like God himself was speaking to my heart.  This is exactly what I was doing.  All along what I really wanted was to come along side beautiful young women and encourage them and help them grow in a relationship with Christ.  I wanted to be there for girls just like so many women were there for me when I needed them.  I wanted to tell them that ultimately we have Jesus always and forever, he is the one that dries all our tears, holds us when we just need a hug, protects us from complete brokenness, saves us when we need a Savior, and loves us no matter what we have done, and no matter what we can ever do-his love is never-ending, never-fading, and the beauty that shines through us each and every day!

I never thought this opportunity would come.  I never thought I would ever be worthy or deserving of doing what I wanted to do…life just doesn’t happen like that, is what I believed.  What a lie from satan!  God was giving me these desires… that is one thing I am sure of.  God does not just give us the desires to watch them wash away.  He has been preparing our hearts for HIS desires since before we were ever a heartbeat in our mother’s womb.  Here I was trying to attempt to make sure I got just what I wanted, just to realize God already had it all along at GCH: decaf!

I knew the moment I saw the first little blurb about GCH: decaf (a ministry all about encouraging beautiful young women, helping them grow in their relationship with Christ, coming along side of them to be an example of Jesus’ love, mercy and grace, witnessing young women on fire for Jesus coming together and simply flourishing in the presence of Jesus Christ, being a support system) ok this is where I am supposed to be!  This is what the Lord has been preparing for me!  GCH: decaf is what I was so patiently (ok, maybe impatiently…) waiting for all along!

Maybe you are reading this and thinking of your daughter……

Do you desire for her to have a safe place where she can grow in her walk with Christ, a place for her to build lasting friendships with sisters in Christ!? 

That is what WE desire for her! 

Maybe your daughter is reading this, and in that case.. I am so excited she is!  I remember being a teenager, I remember how tough it was, I remember desiring to have relationships with Christians who had the same morals and standards that I had adopted from God.  I remember the hurts that went along with lots of things that happened to me from the time I was 14-19.  I remember wanting to grow in my relationship with God…. but I was not sure how to do that.  Our first study will be talking about these specific issues along with so many more!

It is my prayer that you join a small group here at GCH: decaf so that you may be connected with young girls who are going through life just like you are.  It is my prayer that you join our small groups to hear encouragement and enjoy a safe place to share your heart with others!  Maybe you’re like me and all you need to read is a little blurb about GCH: decaf to know that this is where the Lord wants YOU to be too! 

My name is Diane Meyers, and I am where I want to be, in the Lord’s will for me at GCH: decaf!  I am here to encourage young women.  I am here to use the gifts the Lord has blessed me with to share HIM with the world!  I am so beyond excited and thankful to be here, with you!

Please check out many blurbs about GCH: decaf here: https://www.facebook.com/GCHdecaf.  Be sure to email Megan (who just so happened to follow the Lord’s will to put together GCH: decaf) if you would like to join a small group or if you have any questions: Teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com .  Our first study will start October 1!  We will be studying A Daughter’s Worth by Ava Sturgeon.

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Diane Meyers will be blogging for you right here on the GCH: decaf blog every Monday! She is loving, caring, genuine, and perfectly imperfect.  At almost 24 years of age, she lives in Pittsburgh, PA surrounded by a ton of family and loved ones God has given her to share life with.  To the world, Diane may be single, but to her she has the best date of all… Jesus!  Diane has been touched by so many angels in her life, and desires to be that angel in someone else’s life.  God has given her a huge passion for writing.  Her writings are 100% God inspired and come directly from her heart.   

Diane is very involved with the children’s ministry at her church, and is also a spiritual coach for a ministry aimed toward the youth.  She desires for every single person to know that they do not have to be perfect; they just need to accept the perfect love of their perfect Savior in Heaven.  She knows first-hand how God turns our imperfections into His perfections with His love.  She sees HIS beauty in all of those imperfections. We are honored that God brought her to us as part of the GCH: decaf  Leadership Team!

You can follow Diane’s personal blog here: www.coveredinpink.wordpress.com

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The Resolution for Women – How do you Heal an Unbroken Heart

August 29, 2012 by

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom Shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I, Send me!

Isaiah 6:8

Wow, what a week to have me blog for this chapter!  I just came back from a life changing trip to Nicaragua.  This wasn’t my first mission trip though, in fact, last year I went to Guatemala with all intentions of going back. God started working on me way before we left on August 11.  I signed up to go to Guatemala then a Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference was scheduled in the same month – due to financial reasons I had to choose one or the other.  I chose Proverbs 31 as I felt like God was working on me to expand my personal ministry and begin writing or speaking.  So….I registered for the conference.  A few weeks later at church I see where my own church is taking their first independent mission trip to Nicaragua! Immediately God let me know that I was supposed to be on that team  – so I cancelled the conference registration and joined the missionary team.   My wonderful husband had given me the conference money which I now needed for the mission trip and I was able to raise the rest without issue. Yes, God was at work.  When I almost raised all the money needed, the people at work asked me how much more I needed, I told them $125 – they raised $82 for me.  I talked to our pastor taking us, his records had me only owing $80 and I had just received $82!  I preface this story telling you this so you understand how from the very beginning, when I was asking God to show me what ministry activity I was supposed to participate in – He was there – setting me up the entire time.

With that resolved, Like Priscilla in our story today, I now prayed for a broken heart – for the biggest, cracked, shattered, brokest broken heart because you just can’t heal one that is unbroken.  I truly wanted to FEEL the pain, I wanted to understand, I didn’t just want to go through the motions.  I needed to be broke.  Does that make sense?

The first 5 days of our mission trip were spent in a village called Salinas Grande.  It is on the ocean and is built around a salt mine. It was about 8 miles of dirt roads, Many houses were lean-to’s wrapped in black plastic, some were block but were open to weather.  People rode horses and yes, we saw many horses with make-shift wagons (piece of flat plywood) that they would ride multiple people or things on.  Most had electricity with mostly 1 lightbulb hanging for light. However running water was not an everyday gift in most houses.  People went with buckets and containers to get their water; sometimes on bikes, sometimes on horses, sometimes walking.   Oh yes, the heart was breaking already.  Thank you Jesus.  How can we have so much and they have so little?  Why God?

We met a 90-year-old beautiful, precious woman at one of the feeding programs.  She was manually hoisting the water from a very deep well with a bucket and pulley.  Our guys tried to lift the water to see how she managed, they could not lift it far!  God, she’s 90 and happy, I said.  This is life for her; but why? We all have clean running water into our homes – and this elderly sweet lady had to drop a bucket into a well for hers?  More heart break….I gave this woman the biggest hug I could possibly give.  There is no language barrier with a hug!  And the GREATest news…..We had a person on our team who dealt with water pumps at work and we were able to give this her running water at the flip of a switch.  No more pulling her water up with a 10 gallon bucket!

The children were beautiful.   They would come to the feeding programs at lunch time and get a nice hot lunch. These are funded by missionary teams through Open Eyes Ministries. They would come up on bikes or walking with their empty bowls and spoons and for some, this might be the only full meal a day they get.   Can you feel my heart shattering…..being totally broken.  And I prayed for this! I needed this!  The ladies would cook over their fires, no stoves for them, preparing a big bowl of rice, a big bowl of beans, and a big bowl of some kind of meat and vegetables and we would serve these beautiful little people.  We’d play with them – they loved to play ‘football’ (soccer), we had some doing the hokey pokey with us and a translator – All God’s people, but living a different kind of life.

We went into a pastor’s home for a sewing ministry – the young girls were learning how to sew and were making school uniforms to help furnish uniforms to the children at schools that didn’t have the money for them.  Someone in ministry had gotten them Brother Sewing Machines to work with – they looked so out-of-place in this pastors open house with chickens and little biddies running through it – they even had a couple of green parakeets  running around – but they were happy.  It was HOT and there wasn’t much air running through the house, but here these girls sat learning a trade  because someone cared.  Amazing Grace! God is so good! The navy blue skirts they made had perfect pleats.  I stood in awe.  I had to donate to this ministry.  They were working so hard to give back and they didn’t have enough themselves.  —-crash, shatter—-bang…

I know this is getting long-winded, but I have to tell you about the final straw!  We went into the schools to teach lessons to the children. We taught Honesty, Optimism, Integrity, and on the last day we took them the gospel.  I had the opportunity for the first time to stand up in front of this class and teach them about taking Jesus into their hearts, asking for forgiveness of their sins, teaching them that their slate would wash clean, and they would be new.  In my class, I had 22 students and a teacher pray the prayer of salvation!  Oh be still my heart!  Further shatter…..completely broken – emotionally exhausted.  We had 94 total give their hearts in the school that day!

I will end by telling you that I left Nicaragua with a shattered, broken, destroyed heart.  God made sure that it would never be the same again.  Even as it healed, the remnants of the cracks would remain.   I now know that my heart is in ministry for the lost.  For those that do not know Jesus Christ.  I am on a life mission to be part of the groups that change things in the world for those are less fortunate, and many times lost.   I won’t ever be the same person after this trip.  God used it to change me so I in turn could change the lives of others.  I’m thankful to Jesus for shattering my heart. For showing me the way.  I pray that if you have never had your heart spiritually broken, you pray for it.  Pray that God takes it and shatters in it pieces. The beauty of what you feel afterwards will change your life as it did mine.

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Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for breaking my heart.  Thank you for allowing me to share my broken heart with others; allowing me to be a vessel for you.  Bless each one that reads this blog today and each one that doesn’t.  I pray that you will work in our lives, in our hearts, and mold us and shape us to be missionaries to the world – starting right here in our own towns and cities.  Thank you for the running water, the electricity, the way of life we have here in the USA.  Work with us so that we can take some of our wealth, spiritually and otherwise, to other places in the world, blessing your children there as we are blessed.  We ask these things in your name, Amen.

Your Assignment:

Perhaps you’ve been burned when trying to reach out too drastically, people have taken advantage of you or misunderstood your motives; but when you to go minister Christ’s love to another person, what is your real reason for going?  What’s a better way to evaluate your success than with measurable, feel-good results alone?

After you have commented below, go back to our Online Bible Study Group on Facebook to see what our Daily FUN Activity is. If you do not yet belong to our OBS Facebook group, and would like to, please send an email to:

GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com

We’ll send you the details needed to get you into this group!

Don’t forget to stop by Craig’s blog to see what the guys are up to with The Resolution for Men.

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

With Big Hugs and a Big Heart, 

<3 Kelley

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Resolution for Women- Look Again

August 28, 2012 by

I feel so ill-equipped to write the blog post for today’s lesson. I pray you will bear with me as the Lord leads my fingers as they dance across the keyboard…..

Have you ever found yourself in a similar circumstance to the one that Priscilla describes in today’s lesson? Maybe it was at your church or a conference or even watching the news on television….. but have you ever been bombarded with image after image of horrible, unspeakable travesty that make you want to run from it and hide you face?

I have.

For me, it happened a month or two ago when I was catching up one afternoon on Facebook……

I’m “friends” with many of the teens I work with at church Thursday nights and, as you can imagine, I like to encourage them in their walk with the Lord in social media channels like Facebook. On this day, I was at a loss for what to say.

This BEAUTIFUL daughter of the King who I met through my own children at church had started dating a Muslim boy, had renounced her Christian faith, and was excited to show off her new look wearing her burqa veil. I didn’t know what to do. I could not click “like” but I also didn’t want to make her feel like she isn’t beautiful to me…… I wanted to reach through my laptop screen, scoop her into my arms, and help encourage her right back towards her Heavenly Father…… but I didn’t know how to do that in the constraints of reality… so I prayed.

I prayed a lot.

I started reading more and more about the Muslim faith and a woman’s place within that religion/ culture. I kept praying and learning and I found out that many members of my church family had been praying too.

THIS MORNING I popped on Facebook to post today’s FUN in our Resolution Group and I saw this gorgeous face staring back at me once again and my heart sank. Yes, I have been fervently praying for this precious soul, but I still have not acted on encouraging her or speaking into her life in any way…… and then God nudged me….

He reminded me that she sees every single word I post on my own Facebook page every day. She has not unfriended me so I get to assume that she has at least read one or two encouraging things I have posted! However, I know that God is calling me to be more bold than this with her heart…. and I know He will equip me with all I need to do His work in speaking into her heart…. or any other dear heart that He might show me that is in need of His pure, unconditional love.

My town has been in the national news over the recent past about many of our residents not being happy about a Muslim Training Center that is enlarging its current structure here and I am sad to say that I do not feel that some of my brothers and sisters in Christ here have handled their disapproval of this in the most constructive or Godly manner…. I don’t want to fall into that category…. but I also want to respond in a way that glorifies our Father and shows love for all people. I know he will give me the words to share with any young woman He puts in my path and I know He will also equip YOU to represent His Kingdom in a mighty way for whatever cause He places so intentionally on your dear heart.

Habakkuk 1:3

3 Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

Priscilla reminds us that God puts these images and circumstances in front of us for a reason….. it is simply up to us whether we choose to do something about it or not. I know it is hard not to look away or just pray that SOMEONE ELSE will make a difference with it… but why not allow yourself to be that instrument, that willing vessel for God’s work to be done in this earth? Certain injustices will stir your heart in ways it wouldn’t the heart of another. God has divinely designed YOU to specifically impact that injustice in a unique way that only YOU can, dear sister. I know you don’t feel ready, or able, or prepared…. that’s what God is for!

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Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father….. please please please break our hearts for what breaks your’s!!! Then, we ask that you give us the courage that only can come from You to act in such a bold way as to make a difference for Your Kingdom. We no longer want to stay idle….. we know that You have been preparing us to take action in this season and may You get all the glory, Lord! Give us your eyes, give us your heart, give us your love and give us your strength for we know we could never do this in our own power. Help us to lift one another up as we search our hearts, Lord, and may our relationships be ever strengthened for this stand we will take. In Your Son’s name we pray, amen <3

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Your Assignment:

In the comment section below, tell us about what global or local devastations are you currently seeing that stir compassion in your heart? What has kept you from doing something to help? What is one thing you can do and would be willing to make time to do?

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After you have commented below, go back to our Online Bible Study Group on Facebook to see what our Daily FUN Activity is. If you do not yet belong to our OBS Facebook group, and would like to, please send an email to:

GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com

We’ll send you the details needed to get you into this group!

Don’t forget to stop by Craig’s blog to see what the guys are up to with The Resolution for Men.

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

Many blessings,

Megan 🙂

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