November 25, 2024

A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Making Plans for the Future

October 4, 2012 by

 

I can remember so vividly in high school being asked the question repeatedly, “what are your plans for the future?” What do you want to be when you graduate? Are you going to go to college, go to the military, get a job, etc…I had so many questions! If you were like me, those questions could be a little overwhelming at times! Someone suggested to me that I should pray and ask the Lord what He had for my life. You definitely don’t want to leave God out of your plans for the future.

 

 Jeremiah 29:11

He is the same One who said that He has plans for us to prosper us, not harm us..

 

Well, I didn’t seek His direction for my life and it sent me on what some would say…A wild goose chase, for what I wanted to do with my life…which was really God’s life. It was His life after all, right, if I gave it to Him?

 

I wanted to get married and have a family, I wanted to be a nurse, I wanted to move away and go to college. Most of those plans didn’t succeed and I spent a lot of my earlier years of my life going in circles. If I had only took the advice that was so freely given to me, I possibly wouldn’t have made the unnecessary decisions that I made and I wouldn’t have wasted a lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted. I started off going to college to be a nurse. I went two whole years before I realized that I was not great in math and with that profession, you definitely need to be “on it” when it comes to figuring out how much medication to give, how often to give it, etc… So, no that was not the profession for me, although I loved serving others and taking care of others, that just was not the career for me.

 

I then changed my major to teaching. Oh how I love to teach, but I sort of wanted to combine teaching and ministry together, but wasn’t sure how I was going to do it. I detoured from the idea of teaching after almost finishing my degree and changed it to Human Services. Let me tell you girls something: If I had only went to God first, I would have been finished by now, but I know that this is the path that He wanted me to travel, because I have learned so much in my life up to now!

I am now a Young Women’s Coordinator that works with young girls everyday where I get to teach education and Biblical studies!!! You can’t get better than that!! I LOVE what I do!! After I began to seek His direction and Commit my plans to Him, it was then that He began to orchestrate things and turn it all around and place me on the path that He always had laid out for me J I am oh so much happier than I could have ever been doing what I do now. I am truly walking and working in His will!!

If you don’t take anything from this blog post today, I ask that you take at least this one thing: Commit to the Lord WHATEVER you do and your plans WILL succeed!!

He WANTS to be involved in your plans for the future! He WANTS to be involved in your life!!

 

Let’s pray: 

Dear Lord, I would like to ask You to help our precious girls to see You for who You are and who You desire for them to see You as, in their lives. Help them to see that You are so in love with them that You desire to see them happy and on the right path. You have such GREAT, AWESOME plans for their lives and help them to see, know, and feel that. I just ask that You help them to place their futures in Your hands because You created them, each one by one, individually and you have such great plans for their lives! You KNOW what their futures hold and I just ask that You continue to place people in their lives to help them along the way. I ask this in Your Darling Son’s Jesus name. Amen <3

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls 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! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

 

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A Daughter’s Worth Week 1: Finding A Lasting Joy

October 1, 2012 by

Finding A Lasting Joy

 

This is it!  The first official blog post starting the first official day of our Bible Study, A Daughter’s Worth.  I am so excited, are you?  There is so much I want you to hear, so much that God has laid on my heart to share with you.  It is my prayer that you find one thing in this post that will stick with you, that will make you think, and that will encourage you.  Ok, let’s officially get started!

When I was in high school I worked at an assisted living facility, as a server.  It was my favorite job to this date.  One of the things I liked best about this job was getting to know a lady named Mary Jane.  Anytime I was feeling bad about myself, God brought her along my path.  Her words made me smile.  She repeated them over and over again, only because she lost her short term memory, so she had no idea she was saying the same thing over and over again.  I still, to this day, remember those sweet words that brought so much joy to my heart, “Wow, look at you, you are so pretty, dear, you really are so beautiful, look at your face, look at your smile, look at you, oh you are so special.”  It was some sort of magic, those words alone had the power to take my feeling badly about myself and turn it into me feeling really good about who I was.  Her words had never been said to me before or about me before.  I always kind of thought I was pretty or special, but without ever having validation from anyone else in my life, I just did not believe those thoughts.  Mary Jane was one of the only people who had ever told me that before and there was something about her way of telling me that made me really believe she meant every word.  I think it has to do with the repetitiveness, which is something that she did totally on accident.

Who is speaking truth into your heart?  Do you have a Mary Jane in life?  Do you believe the truth of who you really are?  Looking back, I learned why Mary Jane’s role in my life was so important.  When I was no longer hearing her powerful words in my life, I craved them from someone else, anyone else.  After trying every remedy imaginable; the right outfit, the right hand of a man in mine, just to name a few, I finally realized the only lasting remedy we can ever turn to is God alone.  I learned the only thing that will ever satisfy my heart for good, the only thing that will bring me lasting joy are the words that God speaks to my heart through his Word each and every day.  This is when I started embracing the truth about who I am in Christ.

God’s way is the only lasting way to make you feel better about whom you are!

WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS SPEAKING TRUTH TO YOU, YOU MUST SPEAK IT TO YOURSELF.  No matter what your current remedy may be for making yourself feel better; you must get rid of it and start repeating what God says about you.  You must replay what God says about you over and over and over again until you believe it, until you know God is being honest with you always!

Whenever you feel down and out about YOU, please remember who you really are.  You are a precious child of God.  You are His princess.  You are cherished, loved, forgiven, beautiful, chosen, and the list goes on and on.  I encourage you to learn the truths that make up who you are in Christ.  Repeat these truths until you have them memorized in your heart!

I had to do this; I have an entire list of truths that have become my identity.  I used to have to repeat them over and over and over again with my words.  Now that I am confident in Christ, when I repeat them over and over again it is not only in my words but it is now in my actions.  Those truths are so much a part of me that I do not need to go seeking for anyone else to comfort my soul.  Knowing who I am in Christ, makes me feel the best feeling in the world, it is indescribable.  Do you desire that feeling?  Let your heart ache for Jesus’ truths.  If you want to feel good about you, learn who you really are, not to this world, but to God.

Below is a list of truths followed by verses in the Bible that support that truth.  These verses describe who you are!  When you are feeling badly about yourself, go to this list!   I encourage you to memorize the ones that you do not so strongly believe in.  Live by these truths.  Never let anyone convince you of anything else.  Speak these truths over and over again.

  • Who is your Mary Jane?
  • Which verses below are your favorites?
  • Which verses are you thinking you need to be memorizing and repeating over and over again?

Let’s Pray:  Lord, I thank you so much for this opportunity to learn and grow from each other.  I thank you for bringing us all together.  I pray as we start this study that we come to love who we are in Christ.  I pray that when we start to feel badly about whom we are, that you help us to wipe away those thoughts instantly and replace them with the truth of who we are in you!  Thank you for loving us, thank you that we can always count on you.  Amen. 

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Who I am in Christ:

I am able

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS ME.

I am beautiful

Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory

I belong to God

John 17:9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours

I am born again

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

I am cared for

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I am a child of God

John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

I am chosen

1 Peter 2:9  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I am complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

I am confident He will never leave me

Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”[

I am dead to sin

Romans 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I am desired

Psalm 45:11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

I am filled with joy

John 17:13  I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

I have the power of God behind me

Philippians 3:21  who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Love,

Diane <3

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For this Bible Study, you will need the book, your Bible, pen or pencil, a highlighter and a quiet place. We will begin the devotional part of this study next week, so really, you have until NEXT MONDAY to get your book! You can even order it right through our website from clicking the sign-up form button at the top of our webpage.

If you are interested in joining us in our GCH:decaf Teen Girls 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! Our new study is A Daughter’s Worth! Please email teens@girlfriendscoffeehour.com for more information.

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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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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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Resolution for Women – Chapter 9, My Heart – PLUS … BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

August 26, 2012 by

“He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and

to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

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This week we deal with the heart.  What does God want from our heart?  This scripture above gives us a clue:  He requires us to pursue justice; love mercy; and walk humbly with Him.   He wants our hearts to break for what breaks His heart.   He wants us to have a revelation of what His will is.  He wants us to respond to what God has called us to.  He wants us to have His heart.

This week, we are going to see the heart of God and what He wants our heart to look like!  It reminds me of a song that I will post below…..  READ the lyrics and let them sink deep into your heart.  Pray these lyrics as a prayer to our Lord & Savior!

What stirs compassion in your heart?

What tugs at your heart?

Your Reading Assignment for this week:

  • Come to our blog on Monday, where Christi will do a preview of this weeks topic “My Heart”
  • Come to our blog on Tuesday, where Megan will be discussing pages 164-168 “Look Again.”
  • Come to our blog on Wednesday, where Kelley will be discussing pages 169-173
  • “How Do You Heal an Unbroken Heart”
  • Come to our blog on Thursday, where Beverly will be discussing pages 174-179, “Mercy Me”.
  • Come back on Friday, where we will do an overview of the week, AND sign this weeks resolution!

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Now for our BIG ANNOUNCEMENT….

 Our Next Women’s Bible Study

Girlfriends Coffee Hour is so excited to announce the next brand new Online Bible Studies that will begin October 1st!

If you are struggling with being in an unequally yoked marriage, this study is for YOU!!

“Winning Him Without Words –

10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage”. 

To join this study, please send an email to GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com with “Winning Him” in the subject line.  We’ll send you all the details you need to get signed up!

This book is based on the scripture from 1 Peter 3:1 “…they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”   This Online Bible Study will be led by Christi Wilson, Founder of Girlfriends Coffee Hour.  Beverly McCormick and Donna Day will help with the blogging for this study.  You won’t want to miss this study!! It is AMAZING!!!

If your husband does not share your faith, you may feel like you are walking a tightrope of spiritual survival – guarding the flame of your belief in Christ, yet unable to share it with the person you love most in the world.  But your spiritually mismatched marriage can be a vibrant, blessed relationship where you’re free to grow in love with God and your man! 

Winning Him With Words, written by Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller, both Christian women married to unbelieving husbands, is your invitation to thrive instead of survive!  This study begins October 1st right here on our website:  GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com.

PLUS, YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS OUR OCTOBER CONFERENCE CALL!!!

Mark your calendars also for October 2nd when Lynn Donovan,

one of the authors of this book, “Winning Him Without Words”

joins us for our monthly Conference call!!  More details to be given soon!! 

If you’ve made it this far, GREAT!  Because I am actually giving away a FREE copy of  “Winning Him Without Words” to ONE person.  This person will be randomly chosen.

All you have to do is:

1.  Comment below WHY you want to win a copy of “Winning Him” 

and

2.  Comment on our FACEBOOK Community Page why you love Girlfriends Coffee Hour! (Click HERE)

You MUST do BOTH in order to be entered into this drawing!

We will announce the winner on our FB Community Page Monday Morning!!!

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Be sure to check out our Teens & Singles blogs, also, for details on their next study, as well!   Go back to our front page … CLICK HERE …  and you will see the Teens & Singles blogs under the Featured blog.  This is going to be an amazing time with GCH!!

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If you haven’t signed up for our Online Study Groups on Facebook, and you want to be a part of this amazing trend, send us an email at GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll email you the details that you will need to get added to these groups!  You will have a blast with women all across the world who loves the Lord, and enjoys studying His word!

Wow! I’m tired just from typing all this!  We have some AMAZING things happening here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour, and we hope you are enjoying the ride, as well!  Stay tuned for more announcements this week!

Living Intentionally to Be My Very BEST for Him,

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Resolution for Women: The 3% Difference

August 22, 2012 by

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless”  

Psalm 119:1

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As I read this chapter, I just couldn’t stop thinking of Girlfriends Coffee Hour and how much of what Priscilla was saying about us needing friends to hold us and keep us accountable to living a life of integrity, just fits with what GCH is all about!!

But, before I go there, I want to discuss the 3% difference.  All I can say is OUCH!  This is a tough chapter!  I’ve had to look at myself with a magnifying glass this week, so I could find everything that was keeping me from living a life of Integrity!!  I’ve had to look deep into what my life really is like behind closed doors, and not just what I put out there for everyone to see.  Again, OUCH!!

The information that Priscilla shared about the rat poison and how just 3% of the whole ingredients of rat poison is what actually kills the rat….while the other 97% is what draws the rat to the poison!

What draws you to the poison?  Is it television shows, books, music, gossip, lying, stealing?  Is it what you look at on the computer?  Is it that glance at work with your co-worker?  What is it that is drawing you closer to the rat poison?

Integrity to me means doing the right thing even when others are not looking.  It means doing the right thing….period.

When you leave Wal-Mart, do you park your cart next to your car, or do you put it in the cart rack?

Do you gossip about others in your life?  In your church?  At work?  In front of your children?

Do you talk mean about others?  In front of your kids, and then expect them not to bully others?

Do you stand aside while someone is digging for extra change to pay their grocery bill?  Or do you offer to help them by giving them the extra change they need?

Do you hold the door for others as they enter a building at the same time as you?  Or do you walk through as if they didn’t even exist?

What do you watch on television?

What do you look at on the computer?

Every one of these things fit into the 97% category that entices you to get to the 3%!  Did you know that?  If not, now you do!  What are you going to do about it?

There are so many things satan uses to try and trip us up; to taint our integrity.  Sometimes we don’t even realize it…until it’s too late.

We are Christians.  We are to be the light of the world.  We are to bring honor and glory to the name of Jesus.  We are to be on our guard, so that our minds are not dulled, as it says in Luke 21:34.

We are to protect our minds, our hearts, our homes, and our walk with the Lord.  We are to stand up and ask for accountability if we are struggling with a certain area in our lives.  We are not to allow even a hint of immorality, impurity or greed enter into our lives. (Eph 5:3)

Even a hint…. Just 3 % is all it takes to kill a rat.  Just 3%.  Think about that for a minute.  Out of 100% of the rat poison….all it takes is just 3% to kill the rat!  The other 97% is what tastes good, looks good, and feels good to the rat.  But it’s the 3% that kills him….  Just 3%.

We could stand all day and look at just that small tiny little 3%, but ask yourself about the other 97%.  What is it in your life that is drawing you, feeding you, enticing you, and making you “feel” good?

You know it’s there.  You’ve known it was there for quite a while now.  You’ve tried your best to get rid of it…to tame it….to stop it…to put it aside….but it just keeps coming back to entice you.

That’s where accountability comes in.  After you’ve made the choice to step away from these things and start living a life of integrity, confess this to the Lord, and then reach out to someone you trust who can hold you accountable to that choice you have just made.

Girlfriends Coffee Hour is a great place to do just that!  A group of Christian women who love the Lord; who strive to live their lives to bring honor and glory to our Lord; who strive to encourage one another; lift each other up in prayer; and support one another along this journey.

GCH is a place where you can come to let your hair down….to get real.  To laugh.  To cry.  To pray.  To fellowship with women all across the world, who are in this journey together!

GCH is a place for others to hold you accountable.  We won’t coddle you.  We won’t baby you.  We’ll give it to you just the way you need it.  Straight up and in truth!

For some, it’s just what they need.  For others, it’s a good kick in the pants.  For even others, it’s just what God has called them to.

If you are looking for a place to call home; a place to come for fellowship; a place for accountability; a place to pray for and encourage others and to be prayed for and encouraged, we want to be here for YOU!

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”.  That is the scripture the Lord gave us for this ministry.  We want to help sharpen you to be the very best that you can be for our Lord and Savior!

We love you!  I hope today’s lesson sinks down deep into your heart. I hope it brings you to a place where you will give your ALL to the Lord, so you can become your very best for Him!  That’s what we pray for you!

Let’s pray:

Father, as I lift each woman who reads this blog today, I ask that You reveal Yourself to them in ways they’ve never seen before.  Help them, Lord, to dig deep and really search their hearts for things that are prohibiting them from walking in integrity.  Help us help them, Lord, as we walk alongside them today and every day, to bring You glory and honor!  We love You Lord, and we constantly want nothing more but to bring You honor in all that we do, and say!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

Your assignment:

Describe below in our comment section how we can help hold you accountable to what God is doing in your heart this week.  What would that look like, and would you be willing to submit to it?

Now head on back to our Online Bible Study Facebook Group for the Daily Activity, and be sure to let us know today what this chapter has said to you!  If you don’t belong to our OBS FB Group, and would like to, simply send us an email at: GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to send you the details you will need to get started!

…don’t forget to read what the men are up to over on Craig’s blog…

www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

Have a BLESSED Day!!!

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The Resolution for Women – Chapter 8 – My Integrity

August 19, 2012 by

“Blessed Are Those Whose Way Is Blameless”

Psalm 119:1

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This week we will discuss “My Integrity” in this Chapter written by Priscilla Schirer, in the book “The Resolution for Women”.  I have to say that this book has been one of the BEST books / bible studies I’ve ever done!  It has truly been life-changing, not only for me, but for many other women doing this study with us here at Girlfriends Coffee Hour!!

This is our 3rd study at GCH; and it’s just one of MANY more to come!  For just a moment, I would like to talk to you about Online Bible Studies, since we are close to the end of this study!  I’d like to start by telling you first what an Online Bible Study is:

An Online Bible Study is a place where Christian and non-Christian women gather to study God’s word, online!  It usually consists of a group of women who join a group, like Facebook, or Google Groups.  Here at GCH, we first decide on the book that we want to study, and then we begin with blogging about it on our web site.  We then take the study back to the groups for discussion in our Facebook Group.

Why an Online Bible Study?

There are so many benefits to doing an Online Study!  I submitted this question to the women in our current groups, and this is what they came up with:

  • Good way to meet and share faith with other women
  • Go at your own pace
  • Can go back and review at your own convenience
  • Can participate from anywhere..carpool, school, vacation, etc.
  • Can study in the convenience of your own home AND in your jammies!!
  • Fellowship w/ women all across the world
  • Expanding your experience outside of your denomination
  • Participating in studies that may not be available in your area
  • Fellowship of other Godly women that listen, support & encourage each other
  • Meeting new folks
  • Growing and going deeper in the word with each other
  • You can study when it is convenient for you…day or night!
  • Working women don’t have to worry about what time or day a public study takes place
  • New Mommies can study with the group whenever the new baby allows her to study!
  • Those who’ve had surgery and can’t leave the house don’t have to worry about missing bible study!
  • And the list goes on……..

The benefits of an Online Bible Study outweigh the reasons not to.  And to be fair, I want to share the points these women shared with me for the reasons an OBS doesn’t work out:

  • Miss the one on one fellowship
  • May spread yourself thin by participating in too many at a time
  • Tempted to check in too many times a day
  • Not being able to ‘really’ tell is someone is genuine
  • If you’re not computer savvy you may get discouraged and quit

In my past experience of hosting Online Bible Studies and creating OBS Groups on Facebook, I can honestly say that it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in ministry!  I’ve seen women grow in leaps and bounds.  I’ve seen women become friends from all across the world!  I’ve seen women experience the goodness of God from all kinds of different backgrounds.  Women have made amazing friendships in these study groups.  It has truly been an amazing blessing in so many ways!!

We will be introducing brand new studies coming up SOON!!  Studies for our Women’s, Teens, Singles, and Fitness Ministries!  We are so very excited to be able to offer YOU these studies, and to see what God will do in YOUR life through this ministry!

So, stay tuned!  We’ll be making our announcements SOON!

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Your Reading Assignment this week can be found by clicking HERE

If you do not yet belong to one of our Facebook OBS Groups, and would like to be placed in one, please send us an email to:  GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to place you!!  

See you tomorrow … right back here for this weeks first lesson on Integrity!

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Resolution for Women: Shhhhh

August 7, 2012 by

Our Memory Verse

  Luke 6:45

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”

WOW Ladies!  How many of you can relate to the picture above?   Be honest, be really really honest……Well?  No, you have to be really honest!  Can you?   Okay, I’ll admit – I can.   But…..if you don’t agree, can you at least agree that talking is one of the things women do best – We TALK. We love to talk!    We talk about everything and talk some more.   Many times we talk before we think.  We talk when we should just be quiet – when we should pray.  We like to talk.  It’s in our blood!

Have you been in situations where you have been listening to people talk and they are excited about being the first to tell someone something?  They absolutely love being the person to share news or happenings – they enjoy being in the position of getting noticed for what they are telling and talking about – even if its negative.   This is certainly not wisdom and can be rather embarrassing for her and those around her.

“Wisdom – knowing what to say and not saying it” – This is the definition Priscilla shares with us in our book. How many times have we been in situations where we said things when we should have just kept our mouth shut. Let’s face it ladies, for the majority of us, this happens quite often, or DID, before we met Jesus and began to learn wisdom.

With me, when I started building a relationship with Jesus Christ and started studying The Word, I too realized that I talk way too much (hold your laugh) and unfortunately not all of it would bring glory to our Father.  My husband was forever telling me I needed to ‘hush’;  I was talking too much, telling too much, and it would be better for all if I just stopped talking. Truth be told, he was right many times – Yes, I hate to admit it, but the Hubby was right.

I love the way Priscilla writes about this subject.  The following, shared by Priscilla in our chapter, really struck me personally.  When you read these statements what were your thoughts?

  • Silence is our friend. Silence is our strength.   –   I love this!  It’s amazing what we can do with silence now that we have a  relationship with Jesus.   Silence IS our friend and IS our strength!  All we have to do is utilize it, all to glorify Him.
  • A woman who is quick to listen is one who gathers up all the information before releasing her reaction.   WOW – YES!   This is my goal!  How about you!?
  • When she speaks, her advice and assessments are sensible and sober. Prudent and purposeful.  – these sisters represent WISDOM – Wisdom is a blessing!

In God’s Word, sweet sisters, it is made clear.    We need to stop and listen to the direction of our Father before acting or discussing a situation.  We need to remember that words DO have power – and not all power will glorify our Lord and Savior. We need to pray more and talk less.  We need to remember that we are children of the King.  We need to reach out and take hold of the wisdom we know comes from our Heavenly Father ~ and actively display this Wisdom in every situation.  We need to grow in the quiet.   I challenge you to read the following scriptures and become convicted by the words written especially for us.

‘…..the tongue of the righteous is pure silver’  Proverbs 10:20

‘The tongue has the power of life and death’  Proverbs 18:21

‘Be still and know that I am God’     Psalms 46:10

Remember, Silence is our Friend.  Silence is our Strength

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Your Assignment:

  • What would immediately change for the better in your life if you began exercising the spiritual restraint of silence?
  • Try it for just a day or two.  Deliberately keep from saying something that’s better left unsaid.  Allow the bait of another’s unkind or inappropriate remark to land without hooking a response from you.  Record what you observe about yourself and the change in the dynamics around you.

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Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,

Father God thank you for the blessing of silence.  Change our hearts so that we may use this silence to prepare our words and actions in such ways to bring glory to you in all we do.  In addition, may we remember the power of words and the damage it can cause, as well as the praises it may bring.  Thank you for these blessings.  Thank you for each sister here. We love you Father and We ask these things in your precious and Holy name.  Amen.

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Now it’s time to go back to your Facebook Online Bible Study Group to see what your Daily Activity is!!  I’m guessing it’s going to be a fun one!!  If you are not currently in one our FB OBS Groups, and would like to be, please send an email to:  GirlfriendsCoffeeHour@gmail.com, and we’ll be glad to add you!!

Love,

Kelley <3<3

Read all about Craig’s Resolution for Men Journey here: www.adversusmundi.wordpress.com

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