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EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Guest Writer: Rev. Lisa Morrison

In the past six months, I’ve done more grieving than I think I’ve done cumulatively in my lifetime. What I’ve come to realize is that we don’t seem to know how to grieve well in our culture. Do we give space to allow people to grieve, or do we just expect them to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and keep on moving? Or do we expect people to fake it until they make it through?

I’ve realized I don’t think I’ve been taught how to grieve well. As I’ve grieved, I have experienced a gamut of emotions: sorrow, crying, anger, denial, guilt, bitterness, and self-pity… As a Christian, I find myself saying, “I don’t want to be sad. I don’t want to be angry or bitter or fall into the pit of self-pity. I don’t want to live in denial. I want to feel good. I want to be happy.”

Is it necessary to keep our grief controlled and quiet? Is it okay to have a furious rage, scream, or just fall apart? Grief comes from a deep place within our souls. Do we have to keep it under lock and key, or can we let it out in some not-so-pretty ways?

In the Psalms, we find Psalms of lament. If we have Psalms of lament, then maybe, just maybe, it is okay to have some messy times of expressing our grief. How do we grieve well? I think one thing I’ve learned is that I need to allow myself some grace.

The week I spent a complete mess in the pit, I beat myself up for being in the pit. God blessed me with a conversation with a friend, who happens to be a Christian counselor, who said, “Lisa, allow yourself some grace. You have multiple significant losses. Expect to be in the pit again before you come out on the other side.”

Wow! It’s okay to be in the pit, and it’s normal. Allow yourself some grace, and lots of it! You don’t have to be okay all the time.

The other thing I’ve learned is that true lament is a form of prayer and surrender. Christine Caine writes, “Lament is a form of worship because it comes to God instead of turning away from God.” I’ve been pressing into God in the midst of my messy grief, and as I have drawn near to Him, I’ve sensed Him drawing near to me. Surrender comes as we trust even in the midst of our pain, God is still good. His character does not change even though our circumstances have changed.

May we allow ourselves to lament no matter how messy or loud it is. God wants us to bring all our pain and sorrow to Him. May we allow ourselves some grace and reach for a greater level of trust as we ‘scream’ in prayer and surrender to our God, whose character never changes.

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Many dear friends and family of ours are afflicted with sickness, disease, and hurt. It can all take a toll on many of us as care-giving souls because it’s definitely strenuous and difficult for the ones who love the hurting. Can you identify?

We need to pursue healing with them no matter the cost. The first way we can do this is through our prayer life. Commit them to prayer and pray for them without ceasing. PRAYER WORKS.

We also need to maintain God’s goodness and provision bestowed on us to share with them. Speak LIFE into them always. Do not be negative around them. (They probably get enough of that elsewhere.) You are the light of Jesus in their life! Speak it and walk it in your actions.

In order to be healthy, we need to notice the Savior has healing work happening in OUR own lives and then believe it. He is always working. Be the example of what you see God doing in your life. Think on beautiful things, and don’t dwell in sadness.

Our thoughts must flow with those of our Savior so we can carry them to those who need healing.

Let others know the God who performs miracles. Show them and tell them some of the wonders He has worked in YOUR life in order to give them hope.

Read them scripture. Here is a wonderful one to read:

“The Eternal is my Shepard; He cares for me always.

He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water.

He soothes my fears; He makes me whole again,

Steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.”

(Psalm 23:1-3)

Jesus wants to restore souls, and He will use YOU to help Him accomplish this. Be a voice of God awakening “new life” in your family’s and friends’ lives.

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Women World Leaders’ word of the year~ “HOPE.”

Everyone needs hope in their lives. It’s in our visual front windshield and presenting more  “praying times” for all of us. We all need more time with our Father. We are incorporating this word into some of the opportunities to serve…like writing more books this year with Women World Leaders, and faith tells us that prayer, praise, and the Word of God will continue to deliver HOPE to our world! We are reaching the world for Jesus Christ, and it is exhilarating. You are here; you can be a helpful part. We need you.

God will use YOU to deliver this word to the world if you are willing and will provide the useful vessel YOU.

I believe this word hope brings joy to others. May we all trust God for the eternal hope He provides to all of us.

When you are struggling, doubtful, or fearful in different ways, when you are tired and worn out thinking you just can’t start over again, think about what a glimmer of hope would do for you, right?

Maybe your foundation has crumbled, maybe you lost something, maybe your health has taken a severe turn, maybe a family member has hurt you… whatever your situation is, don’t ever underestimate the power of one word, HOPE! Our only hope comes through Jesus and the truth of His word.

Please pull out all the stops and make hope filled with praise your first response in the fearful situations in life. Encourage others with hope. God provides faith, hope, and love for you! You’ll see things start to shift in your vision for the future if you grasp the word hope through Jesus Christ and His love.

Together we are ready to start another book with some authors, with best-selling authors and even brand-new writers wanting to come on board. You all have a place. Are you ready to be a part of this one? Yes, it’s hard work, and yes, it’s challenging to surrender your time and commitment for almost a years time project, but sharing your story might deliver the hope someone else is waiting for.

God will see to it! Trust Him. Get the vision of helping others who have no hope and don’t let go. This book is sure to bring an awakening of something spectacular that this world needs!

Each book we do is a massive mission project and an even larger commitment because we leave it in God’s hands as He takes us on a journey. He has never let us down ever! We step out in faith to accomplish each mission together, and His presence is with us at each step of the journey.

If God has provided hope that has led to healing in some aspect of your life, then you hold a story or testimony that the world needs to hear. Please prayerfully consider sharing in the new book “Hope Alive.”

God has your tower. Will you help others gather hope and build theirs?

Title:

“HOPE ALIVE…”

 Debilitated to Exhilarated.

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Amanda Jackman -Voice of Truth article-recent edition (December issue)

“With four young children under the age of six, life often feels overwhelming. Changing diapers, chauffeuring children all over, trying to find time to be a good wife, and feeling like I can’t catch my breath or find any balance can be daunting.

One day, I stood in front of the microwave, reheating my coffee for the fifth time. The Lord stopped me and reminded me of the only sustenance I need. It is Him. While stirring in frustration over not being able to finish a cup of coffee in peace, I was reminded that God alone equips me for this season, not the caffeine that I was using in my “survival mode.”

God has called me to the four wild souls that we are raising. They are His children whom He has loaned to my husband and me. Wow! He trusts us that much! So while it is so easy to feel inadequate in this Pinterest and social media culture, He has given these children to me, knowing I am who they need. They are part of my purpose, and I am part of theirs.

We always hear about “pouring from an empty cup,” but what about pouring from a cold cup? Sometimes I think we can get so “cold” in the busyness of raising children that we forget to heat up our cup with our Creator, who gave us this season. What if leaning into Him was like getting served your favorite hot cup of coffee? Maybe we should stop in front of the microwave, breathe in, and ask God for peace in the moment. What if He meets us right where we are? With the messy bun, unbrushed teeth, milk-soiled t-shirt, and baby spit-up as an accessory? What if He looks at us and says, “She is good.” In the moments we care for everyone we love, we can know He is waiting with open arms to take care of us. He meets us right where we are.

And in this season, I’m in front of the microwave. And He is right here with me.

He gives us the power to be good stewards of our families and caretakers of our homes. As moms, we can recognize and lean into His offer of refreshment—even in those moments when we feel incapable of fulfilling our calling. Every morning I lean into Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (ESV)

Let’s heat up our cups and hearts with these fruits. The next time I find myself at the microwave, I will be praying the Lord renews these attributes in my heart.

Lord, allow your Spirit to move through my words, my actions, and my life with these children. Allow me to be a loving mother, full of your joy, consumed in peace, patient with the children who know all the buttons to push, kind in my words, and good and faithful to who you’ve called me to be as a wife and mother. Help me be gentle in discipline and correction, quick to listen, slow to anger and speak, and to be in control.

Amanda Jackman

Reheated Coffee

Voice of Truth

10th Edition

Quarter IV 2022

Read this article online in the issue at https://issuu.com/voiceoftruth/docs/vot-quarter4-2022-issuu

To receive a hard copy of Voice of Truth in the mail,  become a monthly donor of any amount, or subscribe to digital copies at https://womenworldleaders.com/learn-with-us/voice-of-truth-magazine/

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Are you trusting God to provide? If you are, then why keep worrying? We have so much to learn from God’s Word about the word worry.

God says we should not be anxious or worry about anything and that we should trust and delight in Him about everything! We should commit and submit our ways to Him.

We need to “be still” in His presence and quietly wait for Him to act. We do not need to take any control in our own ways. Wait! Be still.

We need to learn about putting our hope in the Lord rather than ourselves or in what we see in the “now.”

God will vindicate and reward us. Many of us can be understandably worried about the challenges that face us, but when we respond in faith, God will give us success, and we can trust Him with that.

“Be still” before the Lord; take courage. Watch and wait to see what God will show you to do next. Put away all worry and Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart.

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

Rev. Lisa Morrison, Guest Writer, Women World Leaders

The Far Side of the Wilderness

Moses found himself tending sheep on the far side of the wilderness after he murdered an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave (Ex 3:1). He fled in order not to be killed by Pharaoh.

Moses had been raised as a prince of Egypt and had received the finest education and training available. He went from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low.

I wonder if he thought God had forgotten him in the wilderness as he spent his days doing what the Egyptians despised by tending his father-in-law’s sheep.

I recently found myself on the far side of the wilderness. I had moved home after 40 years of being away. I was in the midst of a major transition and asked my brother if he had any temporary work for me. He said he had some manual labor if I was interested. I thought I would be working for the family business, but instead, I found myself in the woods of his 40-acre property, pulling up bittersweet weeds and hauling brush from the trees he cut down.

Like Moses, I had been highly educated and trained for my profession, so pulling up weeds in the midst of the woods felt like the lowest of the low. The first day I lay on the ground and cried (I doubt Moses did this…or maybe he did.) I wanted to quit, but I heard my mother’s voice in my head say, “You asked your brother for work. He provided it, so you cannot quit!”

As I spent my days in the wilderness woods, I wondered if God had forgotten about me.

In Exodus 3:2, we see God hadn’t forgotten about Moses while he was on the far side of the wilderness. God knew exactly where Moses was. He had a purpose for his life, and he had been preparing him for his next BIG assignment.

As I spent time on my far side of the wilderness, I realized God hadn’t forgotten about me. I began to appreciate the time I spent with Him one-on-one in His creation. I was grateful for His presence and for calling me deeper into a relationship with Him. He was preparing me for when He would let me know what His next assignment was for me.

If you are on the far side of the wilderness, realize you are never forgotten by God, and He always knows exactly where you are. May you allow Him to work in your life so that He can prepare you for your next assignment for Him.

EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:

All over the New Testament, there are women doing ministry. We can learn from amazing women of the Bible. We NEED to learn from them. One thing that continues to jump out at me is women-to-women ministry. It blesses my soul.

All over God’s Word, we see examples of older women teaching younger women. It is so very important! We have that in this ministry! It’s beautiful to watch it in motion as we see so many examples of all ages in this leadership, teach each other and learn from one another. Teaching what is good, training, and correcting is part of the WWL’s ministry.

Teach women to live life with Jesus, teach them to find Godly men, love their husbands, raise their children in Christ, and live upright lives.

Read (Titus 2:3-5)

Ladies, any age, there is someone younger than you; please pour into them. If you’re older, please consider being a mentor in the life of someone younger. Pour “Godly wisdom” into their lives; they need you, your life lessons, and your love!

…And you that are younger women, please show respect to those older than you(always). I encourage you to find a spiritual “mom” willing to talk with you consistently and allow them to pour in their years of knowledge and training upon you. Trust God that He will provide for you the special and lovely “older woman” you can glean from, and please ask her to share her life’s journey with you. You’ll be amazed at what nuggets you can pick up.

Ask any wise woman of God to help you, and she’ll be honored. It’s a privilege to share Godly wisdom learned over the years. It’s not difficult and will surely bless you and the person who asks.

We will never stop learning until we die. Please, look to the older women with a teachable heart and see the value God has placed on them to teach us, train us, and love us as God called them to do.