Happy Labor Day!

One of the greatest joys a woman will ever experience in life is giving birth. Though having a baby is oftentimes uncomfortable, it's a miracle we women treasure for a lifetime.

When a woman discovers she is expecting, thoughts begin to race through her mind. Is it a girl or boy? Is my child healthy? Should I quit my job after the baby is born or return to work? The answers may be unclear at this point but one thing is for certain, she's expecting!

I believe it happens the same way in our spiritual walk with the Lord. As we develop a relationship with God, He plants His Word deep in our hearts and when the time is right, the Holy Spirit reveals it and causes us to grow. By the time I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter, she had her own blood type and her heart was already beating. The first trimester of pregnancy is accompanied by many changes and transitions.

After the morning sickness disappears and the baby is getting bigger every day, a woman can hardly wait to meet the person growing inside her. So it is in the spiritual realm. We wait sometimes patiently, but most of the time anxiously, for the manifestation of what God has for us. With every passing day of spiritual maturity, our potential becomes possibilities and our hopes become reality.

And just as expectant mothers do in the natural realm, we have a shower in anticipation of the new arrival. We shower God with shouts of praise! We shower Him with adoration! We thank Him for His goodness, and we love Him for His grace. Why? Because He is faithful!

By faith we are able to believe God's promises. Scripture says "For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Cor. 1:20, NKJV).

That's right! God will fulfill every Word He has ever spoken in your life. If He said you would preach His Word, get ready because it will come to pass. If He told you you're going to be a missionary, get ready because the mission field is calling your name. If He said He would use the pain of your divorce to minister to others, I suggest you get over your shyness because many hurting people are headed your way.

Whether you feel equipped to do God's bidding, it does not matter. Every blood-washed woman is expected to carry His Word. It doesn't matter if you feel worthy or not. The lover of your soul has placed in you everything you need to fulfill your calling. Ready or not, it's time to come forth. Happy Labor Day!

I Made It!

After staying up to 3 a.m. the night before preparing for my trip, and after nearly missing my flight to JFK the next day, I finally made it to Israel!

My tour group and I arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport around 3:30 p.m. and could hardly wait to see the first city on the tour schedule.

Tel Aviv is a wonderful place to visit, but if you're thinking it's lined with dusty roads like in biblical times, think again. It's a modern city and has all the makings of a bustling metropolis like billboards, quaint restaurants, public transportation and more.

And though the people here speak with a slurred accent, they are no different from us. They like to jog along the beach, dash in and out of traffic, and talk on the cell phone-- just as we Americans do.

After taking a bus tour of the city, we bundled up and went to eat dinner at The White Pergula Restaurant at the port in Tel Aviv. Though the weather dropped to a shivering 50-something, our appetites didn't budge. We enjoyed a spread of Mediterranean cuisine and ate everything from fresh mushrooms and olives to calamari and a dessert made from orchids. I'm a picky eater and don't like to deviate much from the usual baked chicken, but the food was delicious.

I think the highlight of the first day of my trip was my visit to Jaffa. The city is lined with museums and boutiques, but the tour guide said just 10 years ago Jaffa was a hang out for prostitutes and other criminal activity. Today Jaffa is a hub for millions of tourist who visit Israel each year.

But Jaffa is also the city where Peter received a vision from God about Cornelius. It is the place where the Father revealed His plan of salvation for Gentile people.

It's amazing to me how the Holy Spirit can bring to life the words of Scripture and make them real to a person. That's what happened to me today in Jaffa. Tomorrow I'm looking forward to the Lord revealing Himself to me in Galilee.

Watch Your Posture

When my daughter was growing up, I would talk to her about prayer all the time. I would tell her that praying to God was like talking to Mommy and she could do it anytime, day and night, at the day care or in church. It didn't matter.

It wasn't long before Faith would slip to her knees, bury her little face in her hands and pray. She would tell the Lord, "Thank you for being so nice to Mommy and me," or "Thank you for helping me tie my shoe laces." And there were times when she would have to tell the Lord, "I'm sorry" and "Forgive me, please."

For years we would kneel to pray, but when I sensed God telling me to switch things up, my daughter got confused.

I would stop Faith in the middle of a prayer and tell her to get up and pray while putting away her toys. Other times I suggested that she walk around the house or sit in a chair and talk to God. But when I would look into her eyes, her thoughts would say: Why is Mommy telling me to pray this way or that way? Why aren't we on our knees like before?

She had watched me assume that position for years because kneeling is a sign of humility before God. But He wanted us both to know it is the position of our hearts, not the posture of our bodies that He is after. Whether we sit or stand, sink to our knees or close our eyes, God is looking for people with pure hearts. Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8, NKJV).

Today Faith is away at college pursuing her dream of becoming a lawyer, but she knows how to get a prayer through. Whether standing in line at the bookstore or kneeling in the privacy of her home, she knows she must keep her heart right before God.

Speaking of prayer, I will be in Israel March 15-23, and would like for the readers of spiritledwoman.com to log on and intercede for my trip. But don't just pray for me. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Shalom.

Dance With the One Who Brought You

Several years ago I listened to a preacher share a funny story about his adventures at his high school prom. He said he had purchased a beautiful corsage for his date, rented a tuxedo for the special event and got all dressed up.

But no sooner had he and his lovely escort arrived at the prom than one guy after another rushed over to the girl and asked to dance, and she said yes. This went on most of the night until the preacher got fed up with the other fellows cutting in on him and he said to himself, Man up and go get your date!

So he took a deep breath, whispered a quick prayer, and went on the dance floor. He tapped his date on the shoulder and said, ""Excuse me, may I have this dance since I'm the one who brought you to the prom?"

She said yes and the two danced the dust up off the carpet for the rest of the night.

This story reminds me of God.

He is so good to us. He makes ways for us when there seems to be no way out. He beautifies us with the garment of praise when we feel discouraged. He stands by us even when other people forsake us. And when the enemy tries to steal our dreams, kill our hopes and literally destroy us, He steps in and gives us the power to defeat him.

I know the cares of life are vying for your attention, but don't forget to praise the one who brought you out of sin and shame to a place of peace and joy.

Scripture says God will turn our hardships and pain into praise: "'Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!' You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Ps. 30:10-12, NKJV).

In these tough times of economic downturn, war and uncertainty, it's easy to depend on the president, the government or self, but let's not change partners. Let's continue to praise God for His mercy, kindness and provision. Dance with the one who brought you this far.