Tuesday SHINE....

Today's Reading: 2 Samul 5

Happy Tuesday, SHINE! 

Before I forget, I passed a church sign on the way home last night. This is what it read:

"Correction does much, but encouragement does MORE."

I kind of wanted to pull over and take a picture of the sign, so that I could show it to you. You know by now, that visuals are my thing.

The reason this church sign spoke to me so much, is because I NEED to remember this always with my children. 

 I really, really, really try to be their cheerleader and encourager,  but sometimes end up being their drill sergeant.

 Oops.

This little church sign needs to be tattooed on my arm. Or wrist, or somewhere. If I were not deathly afraid of needles, I may be on to something here.

Okay, that's my story. 

Here's to better and more exciting news....

Today is SHINE girl spotlight day! Alison has chosen our next SHINE spotlight, and I KNOW you will be blessed by her story.

Enjoy, friends.

Alison's Introduction:

I am so pleased to introduce this week’s Shine Girl’s Spotlight girl! She is my dear friend and sister in Christ. On the first day that Stephen and I visited our new church in North Carolina, I sat next to this super sweet girl. She talked to me right away and even invited us to a cook out she was having with some friends the next week, isn’t that awesome? She and her husband made us feel at home right away! Since then the Lord has continued to bless me through her! She has loved me so well! In a few short months, she has become one of my very best friends! This is a woman who LOVES the Lord! She is the kind of person who speaks the truth even when it is so hard to hear and to say! She humbly serves others, expecting nothing in return! She is a friend who can make you laugh when you feel like crying but she is also a friend who will listen when you really need to let that cry on out! I have so enjoyed learning from her humble example how to be a better wife and more importantly a better follower of Christ! So without further ado I introduce to you an incredible disciple of Christ, humble servant-leader, gracious mom, loving wife, and our sister, Emily Whitfield! Girls I know you are going to be so blessed by reading what the Lord has given her to say!

Emily's Story:

Thank you sweet Alison for introducing me to SHINE Girls! What a blessing it was to read through a few of these posts by women who are seeking after Christ.

I had the blessing of growing up in a home with two wonderful parents and three (yes three) older brothers!!! My parents made Jesus the Lord of their life when I was just a little baby. So, I was completely blessed to grow up in a home with both parents seeking Christ and teaching us the ways of the Lord. At the age of seventeen I too, took hold of the truth in God’s Word and allowed Christ to save me. Wow – I am now a child of the King!!!

  

I am now blessed with a sweet husband and three beautiful children! Paul and I have been married 6 ½ years and we have our gentle Titus who is 4, our gorgeous daughter Kate is just weeks away from being 3, and our cuddly baby Silas who is 6 months old. The Lord has blessed me far more than I ever could have asked or imagined.

As I prayed about what to share the Lord pressed upon my heart the desire to share with you ladies about God’s faithfulness in ALL things! “2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

I considered writing how God has provided for us financially. But, I wanted to encourage y'all that God has been faithful in carrying out His work in my life, and desires to do the same in yours.  “Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We are Christ’s workmanship this means He is CONTINUALLY working!!!

Paul and I moved to Seminary in July of 2009. I was really struggling spiritually. I wasn’t in the Word as I should have been and I wasn’t loving the Lord above all else. As I look back I had made my husband, family, and friends an idol in my life. Instead of asking God to provide for us financially I was asking my husband what are you going to do to make ends meet? Instead of telling God my fears or concerns I was telling my Mom and friends. Instead of spending time in the Word I was spending time seeking counsel from others. How could I be so far from what God wanted from me. I needed Him to be faithful in changing my heart and He has been!

Women, Christ is all we need for this life of godliness! Desire Him above all else and seek to bring Him honor and glory in everything that you do. Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says.” Search the scripture ladies and allow it to transform your hearts and “Do what is says”.

Please know that God desires to be actively working in your life. He desires for you to know Him and make Him your EVERYTHING. He is faithful to work in your life if you will just allow Him too. Search your heart for sin and repent of it and allow Him to pick you up and dust you off and start anew! 1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” Ladies ask him to change you and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you. Then you know you will get what you asked of him because he is faithful to carry his work until the day of completion!! Thanks for letting me share my heart!

 -Emily