Know that you are loved and prayed for today.

This is one of the chapters in the new book by Margaret Feinberg, Fight Back with Joy! http://fightbackwithjoy.com/about/ . I was given the honor and privilege of having one of the Advanced Reader's Copies to preview a couple of months back and I have been waiting and counting the days until its release.

Knowing that people are praying for you when you are going through a difficult time is one of the most honored privileges that we as Christians are able to experience.  I know this first hand. 

Less than a year ago, I made a very challenging and difficult decision to leave my husband.  
I know that this is about Joy and I will get to the point, on the way though we are talking about knowing that you are loved and prayed for.  You see, I had been begging my husband to drink less, spend more time with me and less with his buddies, to make good choices, and none of this was happening. I was having time and time again of begging him to not drink so much, to not drive home when he was drinking, to give me a call.........
I had said on a number of occasions that he had to choose between me and the alcohol.  I don't remember the exact details of that weekday, I just know that I had some decisions to make.  
I had been seeing my counselor for some time, she had been bathing me in prayer.  She had asked that I find key friends to pray for me as well.  There were a few close to me that I kept on speed dial.  I had a plan in place and I had to make it happen. As I packed my stuff and left for the unknown length of time, I knew that these select few were praying...... and praying hard!
There was a huge amount of peace and presence of the Lord with me.  It was a horribly emotional time, I don't think I quit crying for a couple of days, but I knew I had God with me.  That somehow this would all be ok. 

I had the support of my church members as they began to hear about my plight. My girls were not happy and they were very angry with me.....but I was at peace.  God was with me.  He was there....whispering in my ear....
I've got this....
You will be alright...
I know this isn't easy, but you are right where you need to be.....

I heard Him.  I felt Him.  I knew He was with me.  I had no doubt.  God was right there the whole time.

In Margaret's book

I found that it didn't matter the circumstance, it didn't matter the situation, it didn't matter my emotional state, I was fighting back with joy.

I am so looking forward to sharing this book, that I have my entire ladies' bible study starting it this month! I believe strongly in the words that Margaret shared and the rationale behind them.  I believe God spoke through her for many of us women, to fight back with Joy.  To find our joy in the midst of the fight.

#FightBackwithJoy

http://mar.cta.gs/0bi to find the book on Amazon

http://mar.cta.gs/0bh to find the book on Barnes and Noble

http://mar.cta.gs/0be for the promo video

Word!

Sometimes the hardest thing for me to do is be concise.

I am a girl who uses lots of words.... whether to myself or to whom I am speaking.

So I need a word for 2015

I have done this thing.... select a word and focus on it for the year.... rather than the whole New Year Resolution thing.  I am not sure which of the Bible Study teachers to whom I subscribe got me started on this, but I like it.

Last year was JOY.  Man, that was hard.  The year was a crazy one, as I have previously written about.  Separation, graduation, college bound, empty nesting....but Joy was my word and I. felt. it.

God was so good to me.  In the midst of the chaos, He gave me JOY.  He also gave me Margaret Feinberg.  While I was attending a leadership summit in Vancouver with members of my church, I received an email from Jessica, Margaret Feinberg's assistant, asking if I would be willing to be an Advanced Reader of her new book, FIGHT BACK WITH JOY!  I was overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation.  What an honor! But in this I knew that I would be held responsible to see what God wanted to show me in this book, because He had chosen me.  Isn't it ironic.... that I got asked to read a book about Joy 6 months after I decided that would be my word for the year??? Ironic?  Really? No! God inspired!! God moments!

So I struggle with finding the right word for this year.....because GOD. WILL. USE. IT. to reach me!

I have been tossing around the word ABIDE

It's meaning in the dictionary is: To take up one's abode; to reside. To be prepared for; to await; be able to endure or sustain; remain firm under; to tolerate. To adhere to; to maintain; to remain faithful; to remain satisfied with

How can I not desire this in 2015, to Abide in Christ and live in his sustenance? To be prepared for His work. To await His answers to prayer. To be able to endure any circumstance because He is with me. To remain faithful to Him.

So with that.... I think I choose ABIDE to be my WORD! 2015.

P.S.
I just found that my word for 2013 was JOY and my word for 2014 was assurance.  Well, you can be sure that I had the assurance of JOY throughout the year 2013!! ;)
That's just me.... a little on the goofy side. :)