Wednesday Links 9/21/11

A mix of items this week:

Pastor Mark blogs about women and ministry.

Wishing I were in Minneapolis this week, attending this conference, but thankful they'll be streaming the sessions... 

Need some perspective on the trials you're facing?  Carolyn Mahaney gives some good tips over at girltalk...

Two songs from Mandisa that have been ministering to me this week... The Truth About Me and Good Morning (just makes me happy - any time of day!)

When Life is Hard

This has been another hard year... there's no other way to describe it... seems like one challenge after another.  There's been joy in the journey - but the journey's been hard...

The last hard year like this was 2007... A year of ups and downs (maybe that's what makes it hard... the ups AND downs?)

To highlight 2007:

• Two adorable nephews, born 3 months apart
• Dad had a heart attack in May
• ... and a big stroke in July
• Which was followed, a day later, by a fire in the shop building / apartment on the farm.
• The four of us daughters spent the summer rotating trips to Iowa
• A farm auction over Labor Day - the Lord blessed us...
• Moving Dad from the farm to town...
• A marriage wrought apart...
• Changes in plans... dreams...

2011 is shaping up to be that kind of year as well...  but you know what?  God is faithful through it all.  And I don't know about you, but sometimes, these are the year's I grow the most... because I have to cling desperately to the Cross.  The hope I have in an eternal future keeps me taking one step after another... trusting that He is indeed, working all things together for His glory - for His plan... 

And so, this year, filled with the bumpy turbulance of life - it holds promise too...  that's why I press on... fighting the good fight... not considering the trials of this life as anything more than the mist they are...  I hope you know this hope too.

Wednesday links 9/14/11

Here are some things that caught my eye this week...

Since I'm leading a Made to Crave Bible study, Mandisa caught my eye with her tweets this week, and especially this blog post on why she continues to weigh. I've been listening to her music this week, and have been really encouraged by True Beauty and What if We Were Real.  Beautiful lyrics. 

Sarah Bubar writes over at CBMW about how to avoid the pitfalls of the "Bad Girls in Church History"...  and that's not bad, as in good... rather, bad as in poor choices...

A $10 two-day beach conference?  Check out (in)RL brought to us by the (in)courage gals. 

Just out of curiosity, who do you follow on Twitter?  Anyone who really lifts you up with their posts? 

Wednesday Links - on Thursday 9/8/11

Yep - it's been that kind of week... tres busy... lots happening! 

Here are some links that caught my eye and made me think this week... enjoy!

Ever notice how we tend to think about what is in front of us?  Is it true about friends?  Check out this post...

Have you ever prayed for some blessing, then been annoyed by it later?  See what Steven Furtick has to say about when our blessings become curses. 

Walk by FAITH not feelings. 

Here's how to guard yourself against induction into the "Bad Girls of the Church" club. 

That's all for this week... next week, I'll try to get Wednesday links up on Wednesday!