Tag Archives: Courage

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Thanksgiving

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Being thankful is something we need to practice all the time not just at Thanksgiving. But, I am glad that at thanksgiving it reminds us to sit back and reflect on the year that has passed. We remember the good and the hard times. We ask ourselves and others what are we most thankful for.

For me that is easy, God and my salvation!! God is always there for us!! Through the happy and sad times and through the times where we are not sure what will happen and if we will survive. God is there when we lose things that we think are so important only to find out later, God has worked it all out for our best.

My hope and my prayer is that we can maintain thanksfulness all year long!!! Everyday if we just get up and think of one thing we have to be thankful for and thank God for it we will have a better day. I read a Jesus calling this morning about being thankful. Jesus was saying thank me in all things, like it says in Corinthians be thankful in all things for this is God’s plan for you. No matter what happens we have God with us and we can always be thankful for that. When we thank God we open the windows of heaven. It opens us up to receive all the promises and blessings that God has planned for us since before we were born. The more we do this the more our perspective is changed. We begin to operate like we in the Kingdom of God instead of in the world… We can live in peace and joy because we are always thankful!!!

God bless you all and I hope this little tidbit will inspire you to take the first step to looking at your life and yourself the way God does and to adopt a lifestyle of thankfulness.

 

 

 

 

 

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Women’s Benefit Day

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Things have been busy here at Sanctuary. We have been making a lot of plans to assist women in our area.So here is what is going on now. On June 11th from 9am to noon, at 7792 Spanish Fort Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL 36527, we will have a women’s benefit. Basically it will be a big giveaway for women in need of assistance. We will provide women’s clothing, accessories, furniture, household items, etc.

I NEED YOUR HELP to make this a great event.  I know that God will bless you. We are tax exempt and will provide you with Tax Receipts for your donations.

Here are some ways you can help:

1- Donate gently used or new items. Between now and June 10th we will be gathering and accepting donations of these items. Please email me at sanctuaryforwomen@gmail.com or call me at 251-589-7925 to make arrangements.

2- You can donate on our website if you have no items to share but would like to provide financial assistance.

3- Tell all your friends about the event, those who can help but also those in need of help.

4- If you have a truck and are strong you can help us transport these items to the holding place and to the event.

If you want to be involved in other ways just let me know.

I am so excited to see what God does. This is the first of many benefits that we will provide to the women in our community.

I hope to hear from you all, see how you are doing, and what God is doing in your lives.

God bless you all,
Jana Woodard
Sanctuary for Women, Inc.
251-289-7925

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Standing on God’s Promises

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God has given us so many promises. Sometimes we get lost in the clamor of this life and we forget who we are and who God is. We forget all the promises that HE gave us to stand on that will keep us strong, keep us headed in the right direction, and keep our hearts joyful.

Here are just a few. Think about these scriptures and really open your heart and take them in! God’s word is alive and powerful and brings about miracles!

Strength:
Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Headed in the right direction:
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Proverbs 16:9 – We can make our plans but God determines our steps
Proverbs 3:6 – In all your ways acknowledge Him first and He will direct your paths

Joy:
Psalm 94:12 Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions.
Proverbs 3:1 – My child, store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.
John 16:24- You have not done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
Psalm 144:15 – Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.
John 15:9-11 – “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Psalm 30:11 – You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.

God will work in your life if you trust and seek Him with all your heart as follows:
Psalm 40:1-3 – I waited patiently for the Lord to Help me and He turned to me an He heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He put a new song in my heart, a hymn of praise to my God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed, and put their trust in the Lord.

Now believe and act on these promises and see what God does in your life!!!

Let me know what happens…

God bless you all!

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I attended a Women’s conference at FBC Fairhope. It was great!! What an inspiration Rochelle Frazier is. Here is a story she shared, I will not do it just but hope you get the point. It gives a great picture of God taking us thru the trials and fires in our lives to get us where He wants us, to make us the person He designed before we were even conceived….think about how it might be if we only trusted Him more.

 From a lump of clay to a tea cup….
 
There was a master potter. He had lumps of clay sitting on the shelf waiting to be turned into his visions. The lumps seemed content just sitting there each day doing their thing… One day the potter came in picked up one of the lumps. She was shocked and scared and said Master what are you doing. He threw her down on the table and began to pull and stretch and change her shape. She cried out Master this hurts and I am afraid what are you doing and why are you doing it….The Master continued to work. Then he added water and put her on a big wheel and started spinning her around and around so fast she was dizzy and again he was changing her shape, molding and peeling away the excess unneeded parts of her….She cried out Master why? What have I done? Finally she had a break and the wheel stopped and he picked her up. She thought finally it stopped I will have rest and go back to my shelf. But no that was not to be. He opened the oven door and put her in the fiery oven. It got hotter and hotter and again she was crying and scared and felt alone. I can’t breath anymore I can’t move I can’t function….help me. But the Master was watching her, waiting for the right amount of time for the firing to be completed. Then at last it came the oven door opened the cool air surrounded her and she was breathing and thought ok now what? Then it began again, the Master took out the paints and started slathering paint all over her. The paint stunk and the fumes where choking her it was hard to breath again and she felt sick all over. Things were different again she was being painted in all colors and shades. She cried out Master help please stop I cannot take it anymore…the Master was calm and completed the work. Lovingly picking her up and inspecting to determine if all was done… He was satisfied and set her down. She breathed a sigh of relief and thought its over, it is ok now I can rest….but then he picked her up and put her back in the oven and this time it was even hotter than before. Her breath was stifled the heat was burning her, she thought this time I shall not survive. She said Master I cannot go on I cannot take anymore I am done….Again the Master watched and waited for the transformation to complete. finally the time came just as she felt she was taking her last breath the door opened. The coolness rushed in and the Master gently picked her up and held her up admiring her. He held up a mirror and said look at you, how beautiful you are. You are just as I had envisioned and planned. She looked in the mirror and was astonished as what she saw, she was no longer just a lump of clay but a beautiful tea cup fit for a queen. Hand painted and polished and ready to be used at the best of tables and teas…..the transformation was complete and she was full of joy, beyond measure…
 
If the tea cup had only believed that her master was doing what was best for her, then her time in the molding and firing would have been spent in praying and standing on his word… giving her hope and courage instead of fear….. TRUST!!!!
 
Check out Rochelle’s website.
 
God Bless you all!
 
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Find strength in God!

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I know that life is sometimes a struggle especially when going thru life altering situations. But God can help. God can give you strength, courage and healing. Never give up! Call out to Him and He will be get you thru! Isaiah 40:31 -But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.