Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Bible Study Workbook for Duty or Delight is...





















Thank you Diane for your entry and congratulations!!! I will be emailing you soon.

We pray that you will enJOY Duty or Delight and that it will strengthen your walk with Jesus!


Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

A Giveaway!

It's THAT time again... time for another book Giveaway here on The Journey!!!

I am super excited to announce our next Women of Thanks bible study!

Thursday evenings, beginning April 19, we will be offering a brand new bible study entitled Duty or Delight.

















This 6-week bible study written by bible teacher, Tammie Head, is sure to challenge us as we discover God's best for us.

God is not looking for us to perform for Him, He's looking for us to delight in Him. Many of us hit invisible barriers when we seek the Lord with questions like:

~ Is God happy with me?
~ Does He really love me?
~ Am I doing enough?
~ Why do I feel guilty all the time?
~ Why can't I seem to grow more spiritually?

We will embark on a journey together to overcome spiritual insecurity using six foundational truths from Ephesians 1:3-23. We will discover the beautiful news that God has not only chosen us for a deep, soul-satisfying relationship but He also constantly supplies everything we need to know Him this way.

ENTER TODAY to win your FREE COPY of Duty or Delight (a $12.95 value).

To register to win:
Leave a comment on the blog (below this post).
Tell us your name and contact information (email address).
Tell us the area you seem to struggle with most in your spiritual walk or one area you would like to see improved through this study.
Become a follower of The Journey (upper right hand portion of the blog).

Entries must be submitted NO LATER than midnight on Thursday, March 22. The winner will be announced via the blog and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Women-of-Thanks/201699266562560) on Friday, March 23.

Below is Tammie talking about this new study. Check it out! (Make sure to pause the music below in order to hear the sound)...



I can't wait for this study!

Praying for YOU!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Giveaway: Winner!

A couple days ago I announced a book giveaway here on The Journey.

... and the winner of the book is....

MARTHA!

I will be contacting you soon about the details of getting your book to you!

Thanks for those who entered to win! And stay tuned for more giveaways here on the blog!

Happy Reading!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

A Giveaway!

Well - it's that time again! Time for another GIVEAWAY here on The Journey.

Our next Women of Thanks study will be on the book, A Perfect Mess, by Lisa Harper. In this beautiful book, Lisa takes her readers through the Psalms in a very honest and fun way. She teaches us in very practical ways how we can apply some honest truth mixed with God's graces as we seek to unpack the way God sees us... as His precious daughters in need of His perfect love.













Taken from the back cover...

"In this liberating look at how God adores and transform imperfect people, Bible teacher Lisa Harper weaves poignant stories of her own personal foibles with a fresh take on selected psalms to reveal a loving Father who remains your greatest champion, even when you don't feel anywhere close to Holy. Join Lisa in discovering what happens when we stop trying to hide our inadequacies and doubts and instead trust God with our anger, frustrations, flaws, and regrets. As you accept God's loving invitation to exchange your junk for His joy, you'll find the imperfect pieces of your life shaped into a glorious pattern of divine grace."

Beginning on Thursday, January 12, a group of women and I will begin our 12-week journey through this book together. In addition, I will sharing our insights and some highlights from our group discussions with YOU here online at The Journey.

I am so looking forward to diving in after the first of the year! And I believe this book is going to knock you socks off!

Okay... on to the GIVEAWAY info!

Here at The Journey, I will be giving away ONE copy of A Perfect Mess by Lisa Harper (a $13.99 value). The following are the rules for participation:

1.) Comment HERE on the blog (bottom of this post - click on comments). Provide your first name, contact information (email address), and a little bit about yourself and why you think this book is a MUST READ for you. :)

2.) Submit your entries no later than Friday, December 16, at midnight.

3.) Check back on the blog as I reveal the random winner on Saturday, December 17.

That's it! Simple stuff! One lucky blog reader will win... and it could be YOU!

Ready... set... enter!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Week Three: One thousand Gifts

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30 (KJV)




Can I just say how BLESSED I am to be doing life alongside of some amazing women?? Last night we wrapped up chapter three of our study on Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts.

Chapter three, First Flight, was an uplifting and encouraging chapter. Unlike the first two chapters, which were a little more difficult to get through, this chapter felt like we FINALLY arrived at the meat of the book.

What started out as a DARE from a friend to list 1,000 things she was grateful for, truly turned into her life's mission... a "hunt" as described by Ann herself, to find all things beautiful in a messy, messy world.

We were all encouraged by the words Ann quotes on page 44 from Pierre de Caussade, "When one is thirsty one quenches one's thirst by drinking, not by reading books which treat of this condition." "If we are dying of thirst", Ann says, "passively reading books about water quenches little; the only way to quench the parched mouth is to close the book and dip the hand into water and bring it to the lips. If we thirst, we'll have to drink. I would have to DO SOMETHING."

Kind of like reading God's word. We can read the book all day long. We can memorize scripture. We can be filled with knowledge of His truths, His grace and His love... but if we want it to change us... to REALLY change us from the inside out... we have to DO something. Reading about how to walk in His love will do little for us. We have to take the first steps of obedience and faith.

And so we see Ann's list begin. This naming of 1,000 things she is grateful for:

1.) Morning shadows across the old floor.
2.) Jam piled high on toast.
3.) Cry of blue jay from high in the spruce.

And she says as she begins, "This writing it down - it is sort of like... unwrapping love."

Philippians 4:11-12 is such an inspiring piece of scripture, "I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."

That boy Paul... oh he got it! I want to learn how to live this out too... don't you?

Ann says, "Gratitude in the midst of death and divorce and debt - that's the language I've got to learn to speak - because that's the kind of life I'm living, the kind I have to solve." (page 47)

And so as Martin Luther King once said, "If you want to change the world, pick up your pen."

Can it really be that simple? Perhaps!

Questions for discussion:

1.) Ann accepts a dare from a friend to begin a list, not of gifts she wants, but of gifts she already has. A gratitude list.

Have you ever made a gratitude list? If so, what prompted you to do so? How did the experience impact your relationship with God?

I can say from personal experience that starting my list of gratitude changed my life in MORE ways than I can ever tell you! I think for me, it was in the discovery of the little things I had always taken for granted. Here's some of those from my own personal journal...

11.) Smiles from a friend.
34.) Date night with the hubs.
59.) S'mores at summer bonfires.
75.) The smell of cinnamon.
93.) Air condition.
141.) Bowl full of beautiful red, ripe strawberries.

And so, too, began my list. Could I make it to 1,000? I will see. I'm on my way... 527 to be exact. And still counting.

Is it difficult? Not really. Why? Because beauty is really all around us. Every day. The question shouldn't be can we do it... instead the question ought to be, can we SLOW DOWN long enough to SEE what's been there all along?

2.) Among the first gifts on Ann's list are these:

~ Morning shadows across the old floor.
~ Jam piled high on toast.
~ Cry of blue jay from high in the spruce.
~ Leafy life scent of the florist shop.
~ Wind flying cold wild in hair.

Each gift appeals to one of the five senses - something Ann can see, taste, hear, smell or feel. Thinking back on the last 24 hours, use your senses to name five things for which you are grateful - your own mini gratitude list.

3.) In reading Philippians 4:11-12 (above), Ann discovers, "the secret to living joy in every situation, the full life of eucharisteo." It is in the apostle Paul's statement, "I have learned" (page 47). Take a moment to think of a few things that have brought joy or a feeling of contentment to your life recently. Did you have to learn these things or work at them, or did they just happen, like happy coincidences? How do you understand the relationship between learning or practicing gratitude and experiencing joy?

4.) "This dare to write down one thousand things I love... is a dare to name all the ways that God loves me." (page 59) How does gratitude open the door to ever-increasing awareness of God's love for you? How might you take up the dare to name the ways God loves you?

Did you ever think of it that way before? By naming all the gifts is like naming all the ways God loves YOU?

Think about that the next time you see a beautiful sunrise. When you thank God - be specific in your thankfulness. "Thank you God for giving ME this beautiful sunrise this morning!"

Or what about the next time you hear a beautiful song on the radio. When you thank God - be specific. "Thank you God for giving ME this beautiful song today. The words are so encouraging... it was JUST what I needed!"

I believe NOTHING makes God more pleased with us than when we receive each gift He gives with an offer of Thanksgiving. Pure Eucharisteo. THIS is receiving His grace. THIS is FULL living. Joy-filled living.

And so it is with hammer that we drive the nails... to "rebuild a life - eucharisteo precedes the miracle." And it's not the blanket thanksgiving that changes lives. It is the specificity of each gift. "Life-changing gratitude", Ann says, "does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time."

It's "when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, that I make a place for God to grow within me." If I am serious about changing... for bettering my life... for making a difference... than it has to start with my thankfulness for even the seemingly microscopic.

Ann closes the chapter with a statement... a powerful statement... "... life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change." (page 61)

Thank you for joining us on our journey to joy through gratitude!

Below is the video from week three. (Remember to scroll to the bottom of the blog to pause the music from my playlist in order to hear this video.)

One Thousand Gifts- Chapter Three from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Week Two: One Thousand Gifts

"Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation." Psalm 50:23 (NIV)


We had another amazing group study last evening as we journeyed through chapter two of our study on Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts.

Chapter two, A Word To Live and Die By, was a RICH chapter filled with all kinds of nuggets. We believe THIS is the chapter that really sets up the rest of the book. It sort of lays the ground work for what's to come in all of the later chapters.

The mutual feeling among most of us last evening was that THIS, too, was a difficult chapter in it's own right. A deep chapter. A thought-provoking chapter. But I think we were able to do some digging and found some real eye-opening wisdom within the pages of this chapter. We are praying that God will continue to open our hearts and minds to the truth and biblical applications of this book. We are boldly asking Him to change us in the process - to become women who find ourselves passionately in love with the Father!

Ann begins the chapter with 2 stories... one of a nightmare she is startled by wherein she is dying of cancer. It feels so real to her that she describes it like this, "waking to the crack of a nightmare, this violent shock through the veins..." (page 26). This nightmare scares her so that it jolts her into thinking... really thinking about this life and how MUCH she wants to live fully. She's not ready to die. She wrestles with the question on page 27, "Is that the message of nightmares and dreams? To live either FULLY alive... or in empty nothingness?"

And what does it mean to live FULLY? Really?

Is it the accumulating of more things?
Is it the visiting of more places?
Is it the packing of more events into our schedules?

Or could it be...

The deepening of our relationship with God?
The richness of our earthly relationships with others?
The laser-focused view of our eternal home in heaven?

Yes... I think THAT is where the full life is!

Ann continues with her second story of a letter she receives from her father-in-law who's wife had just recently passed away. In his own probable wrestling of life and death, he asks the question of his son and daughter-in-law, "Thinking on the beginning of this year, who does He call to come Home? Is it me, Lord? May I be ready. Or us. Whoever." (page 28)

She then asks herself on page 29, "Whoever. Ready for the end here. Whoever. Ready for the first meeting of Him there. Whoever. Soon. Will I have lived fully - or just empty?"

Living with the end in mind... will we be ready? And regardless of the answer - how do we live fully so we are fully ready to die?

Ann challenges us to begin thinking, then, what is it? If living the fullness of life isn't seeing more, doing more, being more, then what is it? Where is it? Isn't it here? Isn't the fullness of life RIGHT here? In this very moment. On page 31 she says, "Isn't it here? The wonder? Why do I spend so much of my living hours struggling to see it? Do we truly stumble so blind that we must be affronted with blinding magnificence for our blurry soul-sight to recognize grandeur?" She goes on to say, "I don't need more time to breathe so that I may experience more locales, posses more, accomplish more. Because wonder really could be here - for the seeing eyes."

Is it HERE for us to SEE... this fullness of life? And can we really SEE it?

Questions for discussion:

1.) A terrifying nightmare in which Ann dreams she is dying of cancer becomes a catalyst that helps her realize how much she really wants to live. How do you generally respond to your dreams? Do you write them down and ponder them, or do you not pay much attention to them?

2.) Studying the word EUCHARISTEO helped Ann to identify "holy joy" as the "more" she had been seeking (page 32). What do you think might be the key to unlocking your desire for the fuller life right where you are in the midst of your ordinary days?

We spent a lot of time on this word... Eucharisteo. What a beautiful word! And here is what we shared with the group:

Eucharisteo
Root Word = Charis (grace)
Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave THANKS.
He knew it to be a GIFT and gave THANKS.
Greek Word = Chara (joy)
As long as THANKS is possible, then JOY is always possible.

Think of it like a braid, this word Eucharisteo...
Charis. Grace.
Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving.
Chara. Joy.

Grace was provided to us by the Father (sending his son, Jesus).
Thanks is given by us to the Father.
Joy is received.
Through thank offerings is where we find JOY.

Eucharisteo - Thanksgiving - always precedes the miracle!

Eucharisteo - the Greek word with the hard meaning and the harder meaning to live - THIS is the only way to live... EMPTY to FULL!

3.) The author recalls stories from Jesus' life that illustrate the power of Eucharisteo, of thanksgiving: the Last Supper, the raising of Lazarus, the condemnation of Korazin, and Bethsaida (pages 34-37). When considering the context of these stories, we discover that Jesus is within HOURS of his own death, is grieved by the death of a dear friend, and is rejected by entire towns that experienced His miracles.

Why do you think Jesus chooses to offer thanks at such times?

Could it be that He KNEW what His mission was... WHY He had come to this earth... and He was simply leaving an example for us to live by? Jesus knew His own death was imminent. And he chose to give THANKS anyway! On page 36 Ann writes this, "Jesus offers THANKSGIVING for even that which will break Him and crush Him and wound Him and yield a bounty of joy (chara)." The part that brings me to utter tears is this, "And then what does Jesus directly do, in the face of apparent failure, when no one responded to His teaching and things didn't work out at all? He lives out Eucharisteo. In the midst of what seems a mess, in the tripping up and stumbling down of all hopes, Jesus gives THANKS?" I absolutely LOVE that she ends that with a question mark.

Is it really in the THANKS that real JOY can be found?

How does Jesus' use of gratitude in difficult circumstances inform or challenge your view of what it means to give thanks to God?

Ann ends this chapter with her apparent epiphany spilled onto the pages of 38 and 39. In review of the all-familiar story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers in Luke 17, Ann shares with us her discovery of the word sozo. In the story, Jesus heals all 10 lepers and sends them on their way. One leper decides to come back and thank Jesus for His healing. Jesus asks this leper... this one grateful leper, "Where are the other nine whom I also healed?" And then proceeds to tell him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:17-19)

But hadn't Jesus already made him well with the others the first time?

In closer examination of the word Saved used in this context, the Greek translation is sozo, meaning "well" or "whole". But it's literal meaning? It is "to save". So - sozo means salvation? It means true wellness, complete wholeness. To live sozo is, then, to live the full life?

So - could it be, then, that our very saving is associated with our gratitude?

"Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is our manifestation of our YES to His grace. Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole fullest life." (page 39)

She ends the chapter on page 41 with this question, which I believe needs to be the questions we ask ourselves...

"Eucharisteo. The way through is hard. But do I really want to be saved?"

Below is the video from week two. (Remember to scroll to the bottom of the blog to pause the music from my playlist in order to hear this video.)

One Thousand Gifts: Chapter Two from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

A Giveaway!

Hey Friends!!

My last giveaway was so much fun - I've decided to do another one!

I am still so amazed that this one book has had such an impact on my life... but it has! It has radically changed the way I see God's gifts and His graces every single day. In her poetic writing style, author, Ann Voskamp, challenges readers to life FULLY right where they are. A dare to see the beauty through the pain and the ugly of this world.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is, "... life change comes when we receive life with THANKS and ask for nothing to change."

DaySpring Ministries has produced an inspirational 365-day perpetual calendar entitled God in the Moment. It's a small sampling of Ann's book as it offers daily reminders of how to fight for JOY in a world of hurt and suffering.

Ann writes, "Could it really be that joy is as simple as planting a seed of gratitude? And that gratitude is as simple as seeing all as a tender gift? The earth beneath, the rain over head, the stars spinning round in all their brazen glory, God offers it even now: this is for YOU, YOU... gifts!"

Here is an example of one day of inspiration... "Why is remembering and giving thanks the core of the Christ-faith? Because remembering with thanks is what causes us to trust - to really believe."







So... I have ONE of these fantastic calendars to give away to one lucky blog reader! And It could be YOU!





Simply leave a comment here on the blog and tell me ONE THING you are THANKFUL for today! Make sure to leave your name and your email address too (so I know how to get a hold of you if you win!)

The deadline for all entries is Wednesday, September 28, at midnight. A random winner will be selected on Thursday morning and announced via the blog AND Facebook (here and here) on Thursday afternoon, September 29.

Thank you for joining us on our journey for JOY and good luck! :)



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Week One: One Thousand Gifts

"The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from human beings, but which He had already chosen for our Glory even before the world was made." 1 Cor. 2:7 (GNT)

Week one of our study on Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, was amazing! I am thrilled and absolutely humbled to be a part of a terrific group of women who are so hungry to learn more about becoming the woman God has called her to be! I know I have said this already more than once, but you are ALL (even those doing the online version of this study with us) a product of MANY months of prayer and I can't wait to see the wonderful things God has in store for us throughout our remaining 10 weeks together. (It's already going by too quickly!)

Chapter one, An Emptier, Fuller Life, was a difficult one. We all agreed that it was very tough to read about the death of Ann's 18-month-old sister who died in a tragic accident while her family members watched on. The start of Ann's life was rough as she struggled to understand how a loving God could possibly allow such travesty to happen. On page 12 she writes, "Where is God REALLY? How can He be good when babies die, and marriages implode, and dreams blow away, dust in the wind? Where is grace bestowed when cancer gnaws and loneliness aches and nameless places in us soundlessly die, break off without reason, erode away." She goes on to ask the question, "how do I fully live when life is full of hurt? How do I wake up to the joy and grace and beauty and all that is the fullest life when I must stay numb to losses and crushed dreams and all that empties me out?"

WOW.

And isn't that it? Isn't that that question we wrestle with when life doesn't turn out the way we had hoped it would? When marriages end bitterly, when cribs lie empty, when cancer rips the life of our loved one from us much sooner than we were ready to let them go?

This is the ugly stuff in the world. This is the stuff created from the sin that first entered the world. When Adam and Eve were ungrateful for the beauty that surrounded them and so they longed for more.

On page 15 Ann says, "Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other."

We hunger for filling in a world that is starved.

Questions for discussion:

1.) "If I'm ruthlessly honest, I may have said yes to God, yes to Christianity, but really, I have lived the no." (pg 16). What do you think Ann means by this? has this ever been true for you?

Is it easy to say yes when things are going our way only? Is it easy to "sign up" for a life with Christ when we haven't yet lived the ugly this world offers?

How do we FIGHT for JOY?

Everyone has a story. We all have stories that are painful and difficult. But how do we honor God in the midst of pain and struggle. How often do we want to change the story - when we're not even the author?

There is a difference between JOY and HAPPINESS. Isn't there? Happiness is a 'feeling', where JOY is an act of the will. It is possible - wildly possible - to find JOY in the midst of pain. Because JOY is a choice.

2.) Ann describes how the death of her sister, "tears a hold in the canvas of the world" (pg 16) and later writes, "I wonder... if the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop... might actually become places to see. To see through to God" (pg 22). Is this a metaphor you find intriguing, comforting, or disturbing? How do you understand it in light of your own experience of loss?

The "tears" in the canvas of our life. Are these holes that allow light in from the love of God? Are they places and opportunities to "see" through to God.

3.) The author's narrative is right with vivid phrasing and evocative imagery. What lines or descriptions stand out for you? Why do you find them to be powerful?"

And so - the questions we wrestle with is... "How do we choose to allow the holes to become seeing-through-to-God places? To more-God places? How do I give up resentment for gratitude, gnawing anger for spilling joy? Self-focus for God-communion?" (pg 22).

"To fully life - to live full of grace and joy and all that is beauty eternal. It IS possible" (pg 23).

Will you join us on the fight for joy?

Below is the video from week one. Ann is the one in the middle. (Remember to scroll to the bottom of the blog to pause the music from my playlist in order to hear this video.)

One Thousand Gifts: Chapter One from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.

Tell us what YOU think!! We're so happy you've joined us on this journey... this journey to JOY!

Next week's homework: Read chapter 2 and memorize Psalm 50:23 (NIV).

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

All Is Grace

As we prepare our hearts and minds for our upcoming study on Ann Voskamp's amazing book on gratitude and grace, One Thousand Gifts, I'd like to share something with you. This song, written and performed by Shaun Groves, was inspired by her writings and I am in LOVE with it!

All Is Grace!

I hope you enjoy it as much as me!
(Note: you will need to scroll to the bottom of this page to pause my playlist in order to listen to this video).



Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

The Shepherd and His Sheep

In John 10, Jesus taught about being the Good Shepherd. John 10:11 says, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays His life down for His sheep."

I heard something the other day that has had me thinking all day. Bestselling Author, speaker, singer and Bible teacher, Sheila Walsh, was on Life Today and she said something that was, in my humble opinion, pretty profound. She said this... "God is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. It's not the sheep's job to get home, it's the Shepherd's job to lead us there. God always goes BEFORE us. Our full dependency needs to rest in Him."

This is MORE than good news friends, this means that God is taking care of us. It means that He is our teacher, He is our protector, He is the one who is guiding and steering our paths.

In the book, They Smell Like Sheep Dr. Lynn Anderson says this, "Think of it. Jesus left the comforts of heaven and came into our universe, our pasture, to smell like sheep!" He goes on to say, "Jesus sweated like we do. He walked our pathways, braved our wolves, faced our temptations, and shared our struggles. The Holy One of Israel came in Jesus Christ to be our good shepherd."

I did some studying on shepherds and have noted some characteristics of those who hold this humble job title....

They live with the lambs their entire life
They protect their flocks
They caress their sheep
They feed and water their sheep
They lead their sheep
They protect their sheep from dangerous situations

Notice that in all of the above references, I have referred to the sheep as "theirs". Meaning that the shepherd takes personal responsibility for each animal. They BELONG to the shepherd... just as we belong to our Heavenly Father. He takes ownership of us... we belong to Him. We are His precious ones.

The model we see between Shepherd and Sheep revolves around one word and that's relationship. "When a tiny lamb was born into the wilderness world", says Anderson, "the shepherd took the trembling newborn into his hands, warming it and caressing it. Among the first sensations felt by the shivering lamb was the tender hands of the shepherd. The gentle voice of the shepherd was the first sounds to awaken the lamb's delicate eardrums."

The shepherd is not a dictator. He is not one who sits in the comforts of his cozy couch forming teams of controlling, power-hungry shepherd wanna-be's to do the work for him. He doesn't leave his sheep alone in the wilderness to fend for themselves. In fact the opposite is true. He loves them. He protects them from the dangers of other animals and harsh weather elements. He guides them onto the right path... sometimes gently correcting along the way... but always gently. Always loving. It's his job to get them home safely... but often times it's a job that requires getting a little dirty.

He smells like sheep.

"With the whole flock examined and bedded down, finally the shepherd himself would lie down, stretching his body across the opening. So, the shepherd literally became the door! His body kept the sheep in and the dangers of the night out. No sheep could wander into danger because the shepherd's body held them in. Wolves and robbers could enter to harm the flock only over the dead body of the shepherd. Some claim that even in modern times, morning will occasionally find sheep, without a shepherd. Upon investigation, a bleeding, battle-worn shepherd will often be found somewhere nearby - sometimes even a dead one. The shepherd would literally lay "down his life for the sheep."

I love this.

When we are in relationship with Jesus, He is our shepherd and we are His sheep. I love the message version of Isaiah 53:6... "We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on him, on him."

He is taking care of that financial mess you're in.
He can erase the doubt you have.
He is handling your marital crisis.
He is taking care of your wayward child.

He's gone before us and yet walks beside us.

That doesn't give us permission to sit by passively and do nothing. Instead we must listen to the Shepherd's voice and go where He's directing us to go. We must yield to His calling. We must obey His commands. But, friends, it's His job to get us home safely, and if we allow Him full control of our lives, He will do it for us.

Jesus says in John 10:14, "I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me."

He knows us. Intimately. And the more time we spend cultivating our relationship with Him, the easier it becomes to know His voice and trust His leadership.

1 Peter 2:25 calls the Shepherd, "... the Overseer of your souls."

Without the Shepherd, we are helpless sheep. Wandering the wilderness. Tired, lost, hungry, alone and confused. But God has provided a Shepherd to care for His sheep. The battle is being fought for us... help has been provided. We have a Shepherd who is "willing and able to do accomplish infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask or hope." (Eph 3:20)

Listen for His voice... He's calling us home!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

My Reading List and Other Gems

I love to read. I always have. There's just something about a new book, isn't there? There's something, indeed, magical when you crack open a book for the very first time. The fresh white pages just waiting to be absorbed. I remember LOVING the smells of the library when I was a kid. Albeit weird, I always loved (and admittedly still love) the smell of old, used books.

While on vacation with my mom and Chloe earlier this month, I found a gem I'd overlooked before. The SALVATION ARMY! Books for $2 an $3! Good books. Books in good condition. I even amazed myself that I was able to locate such great finds for so cheap. (Bargain shopping has never been my forte. And I mean that.) I believe Chloe and I walked out with 13 books that afternoon having spent only $31! I was pretty happy! And ready for some serious reading. ;)

Here's what I'm currently reading:
One In A Million, by Priscilla Shirer
Discerning The Voice of God, by Priscilla Shirer
It, by Craig Groeschell
The Life You've Always Wanted, by John Ortberg
Live Big (10 life coaching tips for living large, passionate dreams), by Katie Brazelton
A Perfect Mess, by Lisa Harper
The Grace of God, by Andy Stanley
The Power of Patience, by M.J. Ryan

Other things I'm LOVING right now:
Jesus Calling (Devotional book), by Sarah Young
Promises to Pray Over Your Children (Prayer book), by Roy Lessin
90 Days with David (Devotional book), by Beth Moore
The One Year Mother Daughter Devo, by Dannah Gresch
The McArthur Bible Commentary
The Esther Bible Study, by Beth Moore

Blogs and websites that inspire me:
Perry Noble (pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson, S.C.)
Steven Furtick (pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C.)
Living Proof Ministries (Beth Moore's blog)
Going Beyond Ministries (Priscilla Shirer's ministry blog)
Lysa TerKeurst (President of Proverbs 31 Ministries blog)
Renee Swope (Co-speaker of Proverbs 31 Ministries radio show)
Bring The Rain (Angie Smith's blog. Angie has an AMAZING story - you must visit her blog!)
In the Name of Love (Writer and speaker, Biana Juarez's blog)
A Holy Experience (Ann Voskamps, author of One Thousand Gifts, blog)
(in)courage (Home for the hearts of women blog)
BibleGateway (An online bible resource)

My personal Prayer Journal
If you don't have one - I encourage you to get one. Mine is NOT fancy. It's a basic spiral. But I absolutely love it! Every day I write in it things I am praying about. It's a great resource for me to look back on to see times when God answered prayer and times He was speaking to me through my prayer time. Make sure to date each entry so you can look back and see the times God was working in your life.

My personal Gratitude Journal
Inspired by this book, I am on my way to listing 1,000 things I am grateful for. I'm telling you - if you want to incorporate a discipline that will change the way you see every day living - this is something you HAVE to try! It's hard to be upset and disappointed when you are consistently on the hunt for things that you are thankful for. By the way - I'm on #148.

The version of the bible that I prefer these days is the NLT. Very simple to understand. A second runner up would be the NIV. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the Message bible and invested in a side-by-side parallel (NIV/Message) bible last year. It's a great all-in-one that has become a regular go-to for me.

There it is. Not all of it, but a pretty good list of what I'm into right now and what's growing, molding and shaping me.

I'd LOVE to hear what you're reading and what you're inspired by! Leave a comment and share in our community!

Don't just be blessed today... be a blessing!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

On One Thousand Gifts

Most of you know I've just finished a GREAT book entitled One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It has been an AMAZING journey for me... truly an inspiring book that I encourage ALL of you to RUN out and purchase! It's also been challenging. A dare... to find and list one thousand things you are grateful for. One thousand gifts.

I know I keep saying it over and over - but this book has literally changed my life. Honestly, Ann is, by far, one of the most amazing authors I have ever had the privilege to read!

Ann was interviewed recently on 100 Huntley Street and here's what she says about her book. I hope you enJOY! (Note: you'll need to scroll to the bottom to pause my playlist before watching.) :)







"He {God} wants us to live abundantly. He doesn't want us to just survive, He wants us to thrive. Not to just meet Him, but to enjoy Him moment by moment."

"God is always good and I am always loved."

"If God is everywhere, beauty has to be everywhere."

I love her comparison to our model, Jesus. Who, when faced with the certainly of death - chose to GIVE THANKS by breaking the bread and sharing it with His disciples. (Luke 22)

It's about choosing to give THANKS right where you are - for whatever God gives.

Remember, God is always good and I am always loved!

Can we pause long enough to see the beauty in our every day lives? The beauty in this mess. The joy in the moment.

My list? I'm on 111. My journey of choosing to SEE the beauty around me and considering it pure JOY. Taking the ugly in this world and finding the beauty... that's where God is! That's where real living is. That's what living FULL is all about.

You can get your copy here or here.

Will you join me on the JOURNEY of GRATITUDE?

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

Sun Stand Still Book Review

Wow! I just finished an AMAZING book! It's entitled Sun Stand Still, written by Steven Furtick. Steven is the lead pastor of a church called Elevation in Charlotte, N.C. The book is a MUST READ for anyone willing to step out in faith and ask God for the impossible.

This book challenges readers to consider living with what he calls Audacious Faith. It's explained this way... "What you consider possible for your life will expand beyond anything you've ever imagined. Radically, suddenly and irreversibly."

The book is based around and Old Testament story that we all know probably from Sunday School "back in the day". The story is of Joshua tucked away in Joshua 10 and tells about this type of audacious faith. "As the chapter opens, we read that five opposing Amorite armies were planing to attack. Having decided to strike first, Joshua led the entire army toward the Amorites on an all-night march. Sometime during that march, God spoke to Joshua. He told him, 'Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.'" "Victory wasn't complete, and once it got dark the rest of the Amorites would slip away... but Joshua was determined to fight on." There's more to the story that I am leaving out, but what's most important to this section of the book is that Joshua wasn't like most people. He realized that the enemy must be destroyed and even though the sun was going down - he was determined to keep fighting until he won. This is where his audacious faith began. As the book reads, "Joshua sized up the situation, summoned all his available courage, and delivered one of the most gloriously unorthodox prayers in the entire bible:

'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' (verse 12)

Joshua had the audacity to ask God to make the sun actually stand sill... to freeze time on behalf of his people. And guess what? God did just that:

'The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since... Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!' (verses 13-14)

I'm telling you that I believe this single book has the potential to change the way we look at our faith, our prayer life AND the amazing plans God has for our lives!

Here are some my personal favorites. I'll admit there's a LOT. I think I highlighted more in this book than in any other book I own and I guarantee it will be re-read over and over again. I hope you enjoy...

"If you're not daring to believe God for the impossible, you're sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life."

"If the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God."

"If you want to experience God's blessings, audacious faith is not optional."

"Accomplishing the impossible is all about seeing the invisible."

"When God speaks, He does not stutter."

"How would your general outlook shift if you woke up every morning, not just to a to-do list, but to goals and activities that flowed from your vision?"

"Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience."

In regard to God igniting a vision in you... "Stop waiting around for the big bang. Pay attention to the subtle clues and the still, small voice (of God). God lives in that place too."

"If God is calling you to make a big difference, he usually starts in a small way - a flaming bush that only you will notice."

"God longs to pour out on all of us if only we'll get serious about using everything we've got for His glory."

"But when you give all you've got for the cause of the One who gave it to you in the first place, the effects of your investment will literally reach the heavens."

"Before you swim out any further, be sure that God is the One leading you out into the deep waters."

"A lot of times, out greatest fears are rooted in personal insecurities. The perspective of faith enables us to see who we truly are in Christ. God is on our side. Through Jesus, we are righteous. We are cleaned. We're accepted."

"Audacity isn't the absence of uncertainty and ambiguity. Audacity is believing that God's promise is bigger than my perhaps."

"Hearing from God is terrifying. If He wrote His will in the sky with fire, and airlifted you through the clouds to the completion of your assignment, obedience would be natural. But then faith wouldn't be necessary, would it?"

"When you reflect on God's vision for your life, you should be overwhelmed."

"The great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, obedience, and sacrifice."

"Before God can bring His promises to pass in your life, He has to strip away all the stuff that keeps you from trusting Him wholeheartedly."

"When God takes something or someone out of your life, He's just clearing space on your hard drive for an upgrade."

"The key to unlocking your audacity is not to take the most bizarre risk you can think of, then blame the outcome on God. The key is getting a clear and correct view of God, believing that God is actually who He says He is. And that He can do what He says He can do."

"I've noticed that most of us don't have a hard time believing that God's grace is real - we just have a hard time believing that it's really available to us."

"Many people would say God can still use you despite your failures. I want to take it a step further. God's grace is so audacious that He will use the failure itself to show off just how capable He is."

"Nothing you've ever done is so repulsive that God can't redeem your potential and love you through it."

"Audacious faith does not guarantee a crisis-free life. But audacious faith does enable you to seize the opportunity to see God's glory in the midst of every crisis in your life."

"The glory of God often shines the brightest when the sun goes down... and we keep our eyes on Jesus anyway."

"You'd never see how strong God is if there were no opponent for Him to overcome in your life."

"God didn't send Jesus to throw in the towel and call off all our fights. God sent Jesus to step into the ring and fight our battles."

"Sometimes God lets the sun go down so that He can be our only light."

"Maybe the greatest Sun Stand Still prayers God will answer over the course of your life will be the audacious prayers of faith you pray for others."

"If you're going to have the audacity to ask God for something, you'd better be ready to act!"... "No wonder so many of our prayers aren't answered. We pray for a miracle, but we fail to make a MOVE!"

"Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope wants it to happen. Faith causes it to happen and acts as if it's already done."

"Vision begins when you hear the sound of God's voice speaking something to your heart."

"What God has done among us is so big that there's nobody to blame but Him!"

Now.. go. Get the book. You won't be disappointed!




http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Stand-Still-Happens-Impossible/dp/1601423225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293473228&sr=8-1

More on Lasting Impressions

I mentioned in my last post that I'm reading a terrific book entitled, Lasting Impressions by Mark Waltz. Here's some more highlights... some things I'm chewing on...

Mark teaches the difference between feeling responsible FOR people he leads verses being responsible TO the people he leads.

"THE FREEDOM OF RESPONSIBILITY TO:

When I'm responsible to people, I understand they have choices.
When I'm responsible for people, I think I should decide for them.
When I'm responsible to people, I know they must figure out their next steps.
When I'm responsible for people, I try to tell them what their next steps are.
When I'm responsible to people, I know they must bear the consequences of their own chosen actions.
When I'm responsible for people, I assume the guilt - or worse, the shame - for them.
When I'm responsible to people, I share their journeys, offering encouragement and teaching.
When I'm responsible for people, I try to direct their journeys, never allowing them to wrestle, mess up, or make a wrong turn.
When I'm responsible to people, I talk to God a lot on their behalf.
When I'm responsible for people, I talk to people a lot on God's behalf."

New Book!

I love a new book! This one I actually pre-ordered about 2 months ago and I just got it a couple weeks ago. I was so excited. This is book #2 by Mark Waltz, Connections Pastor for Granger Community Church in Indiana. This one is a must read first... but I'm discovering a new love for this new one. Here's something I've been pondering...

"People want to belong to something bigger than they are, something exciting, adventurous, something excellent and significant. But if we aren't clear about calling people to be disciples, sold-out followers of Jesus Christ, they will continue to show up, cheer and maybe even tell their friends, but their lives may not reflect a personal, missional buy-in to the agenda of the kingdom of God and the grace of Jesus Christ. People matter too much to miss this critical distinction. God's agenda matters too much to allow this confusion."