The events of this week hang heavy on my heart. As I watch the news coverage, I wish I could just press a permanent pause button on the wickedness in this world. Jesus, help us! This simple prayer was the cry of my heart this week. My soul longed for Jesus to come down and make it all better. When life makes no sense, the only solution is to seek the One who suffered more than I will ever understand to save this world from sin. Jesus knows how to turn things around and transform darkness into light. When sin is great, Christ's love is greater. His name speaks life and peace louder than any other voice. The name of Jesus is All PowerfulThis week I have found comfort in 5 names of my death-defeating Savior: Redeemer (Job 19:25, Isaiah 59:20; Colossians 1:13-14) Jesus is a rescuer, and He wars for us when we are in need of ransom. He longs to flood all the dark spaces of our lives with His light and love. Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22, I Peter 2:4-8) No matter how unstable this world gets, Jesus is a bedrock foundation under our feet. We stand secure in Christ. Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:14) In the midst of chaos, Jesus speaks peace over our lives. As we press into His presence, He will calm the storm within us as the battle rages without. Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) God is with us. He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. The Spirit of the Resurrected Christ indwells us and is at work. His wonderful plan for us cannot be thwarted by wicked schemes. Faithful and True (Psalm 33:4; Revelation 19:11) Jesus will keep His promises. He is a warrior who fights for us and will fully defeat all wickedness one glorious day. As we talk with our neighbors and co-workers about difficult events during dark times, let's remember to bring Jesus into the conversation. Let's tell them about the Savior who embodies the hope and help they are desperately seeking. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
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One of my favorite writers was an Irish missionary in India. She was a young single woman with a burden to help the destitute. Amy Carmichael left the comfort of her homeland in Ireland and worked to save the lives of countless orphans -- young girls who were rescued from slavery as temple prostitutes. At Dohnavur, she established not only an orphanage, but also a school and medical clinic which eventually opened up its doors to young boys as well. Carmichael was plagued with health issues, but persevered in her calling. For the last 20 years of her service, she was crippled from a fall, but still remained in India and continued to serve as "alma" or "mommy" to her charges. Her love for Jesus was expressed in writing through poems, songs, and journal writings. She published over 30 books during her lifetime. Amy Carmichael never left India. On the day she died, the shell that had carried her soul was laid to rest in the soil where she selflessly served for 56 years. One woman fully yielded to Christ can make an incredible difference in this world. Amy Carmichael is living proof of that. "To accept the will of God never leads to the miserable feeling that it is useless to strive any more. God does not ask for the dull, weak, sleep acquiescence of indolence. He asks for something vivid and strong. He asks for us to cooperate with Him, actively willing what He wills, our only aim His glory." ~ Amy Carmichael We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
I love reading about the lives of missionaries. Their passionate commitment to reach others with the Good News inspires me to try to do more for Jesus. Recently, I've read quite a bit on J. Hudson Taylor, missionary to China in the late 1800's. Taylor adopted the dress and appearance of those he was trying to reach with the gospel. He not only planted churches, but he purposed to raise up and train 24 other missionaries who would reach into every part of China with the Word of God. His work ethic and drive were unrelenting. Hudson feared not where the funds would come from to support his mission: “Depend upon it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." At the end of his life, Taylor had left an incredible legacy for Christ in China with with 825 missionaries spread out over 18 provinces. Over 300 mission stations were open, and 25 thousand people had professed Jesus as Lord. Fifty one of his 73 years were spent making Jesus known in China. Who are you pouring into right now? What legacy are you leaving for Christ? We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
The call to be a missionary is not rare. We are all missionaries, and our mission field is right where we are at this very moment We are missionaries in our families, at our job, in our neighborhoods, and every where we go. You can share the gospel anywhere. Your mission field might be the line in the grocery store or the waiting room at the doctor's office. Every day provides a fresh opportunity to share the Good News. We just have to live alert with eyes open and hearts in tune with the Holy Spirit. Wherever we go, we will meet people who are restless in their hearts and long for something more. They just might not realize that Jesus is the one who can quench that thirst in their soul that nothing seems to satisfy. Let's pray this week for God to give us eyes to see our mission field, and for courage to step forward and share His story with the world. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness.
Don't you love movies where the underdog ends up saving the day? It encourages me to know that God uses ordinary people to do the extraordinary. We just have to step forward in faith and fully surrender. May God give us a resolute faith that says "no turning back." One way to remind yourself that God is doing a miraculous work in your mundane is to follow up with missionaries. You can sign up for a monthly newsletter for a missionary that your church sponsors, or you can read stories from the heroes of the faith who've sacrificed all during our times. I was so inspired by the story of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. If you aren't familiar with their story, you can read about it here. Both Jim and Elisabeth kept spiritual journals, and we love the quotes pulled from those diaries of faith. Here are some of our favorites:
Jim and Elisabeth Elliot lived "all in" for Jesus, Their testimony of their steadfast faith lives on and impacts this world today. As Elisabeth said, "“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.” We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness.
Don't you just love Instagram? It's a great way to connect with friends, keep up on their stories, and avoid all the crazy talk on Facebook. We are fans! Check out our Favorites;LauraLaura lives in Colorado and has a big crew of kids. She is on mission everywhere she goes with her littles. We love how she shares her quiet time visually with her followers. JenJen is a champion for adoption, social justice, and missions. As a mama in a beautiful multi-racial family, she is passionate about advocating for unity and faith that pushes down walls. She will light a fire in your heart with quotes like this: LeahLeah is always venturing outside with her adorable kids and posting videos and pictures of the glorious views in Colorado. When a verse jumps off the page of her Bible, she is sure to share it. LyliLyli confesses that she is addicted to making pretty instagram graphics on her iphone. Every once in a while, she will take a picture of her backyard in Florida, but for the most part she loves to share encouraging quotes and Scriptures. Missional WomenYou don't want to miss the daily inspiration to live on mission for the glory of God on our Instagram account. Follow us on Instagram at www.instagram.com/missionalwomen/ Instagram is a great tool for sharing the Gospel. Looking for ideas? Check out our article "4 Ways to Make Jesus Known on Instagram" for some practical tips: We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness.
God wants to be known. He wants to be known by every person -- every living, breathing soul is important to Him. He unfolds His glory at every moment of the day to people from every tribe, nation, and language through creation. Just look up, and you will see the constellations artistically displaying who God is. Since day one, God has gloriously manifested His character to us so that none can say “what about the people who never heard about Jesus." The starry sky clearly showcases His salvation. Leah and Laura are fired up about sharing how the Gospel is revealed through the stars, and they've created a wonderful video series to share the Good News with those who are seeking Truth. Check out the videos below for a glimpse. IntroductionVirgoIsn't God awesome? We'd love for you to partner with us and get the Word out by sharing this series on your social media channels. Let's brag on God and invite our friends to discover how God is declaring His redemption through the stars. You will find the complete series with all 14 videos at TheStoryoftheStars.com. Pray with us for many to place their faith in Christ through watching this series. We want everyone to see His wonder and worship the Savior revealed through the heavenlies. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
Lyli Dunbar enjoys karaoke in the car with her husband, digging into Bible study with the girls, and reading 12 books at a time. A writer, speaker, and mentor, her burning passion is to know Jesus and to make Him known. Join her at lylidunbar.com to find fuel for a wildfire faith. You may also connect with Lyli on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
Is it just me to has the world gone a little mad this week? I’ve spent way too much time watching 24-hour news and scrolling through angry facebook posts, and all I want to do is have a good cry. How am I supposed to share the Gospel in this upside-down world where no one gets along? This morning during my quiet time, I woke up remembered that there is nothing new under the sun. The Apostle Paul lived in violent times too, and he managed to press through the pandemonium to preach the Gospel and write half the New Testament. I need to put my big girl pants on and stop whining. Paul stayed on mission. Wherever he was, in whatever environment, he determined to rise above the chaos to proclaim the Good News. Let’s remember that Paul lived during crazy times – much more crazy than today. Paul stayed on mission with a mad man sitting on the Emperor’s throne. In AD 64, Nero burned down half of Rome, deflected the blame by targeting Christians, and burned many alive in retribution. During this time, Paul continued sharing the gospel while under house arrest. He lead countless lost souls to the saving knowledge of Jesus and wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon while in captivity. I found myself wishing I could sit down and have a heart to heart chat with Paul about how he would handle crazy weeks like this one. I went digging into the wisdom he shared with Timothy and found a little encouragement. How to Stay on Mission in a World Gone Mad:1. Fill up with Courage: This is not a time to be timid or silent. Right now, we need to be bold in sharing our faith. Jesus never avoided confrontation. He lovingly stepped toward the confused and pointed lost people to salvation. "This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (II Timothy 1:6-7, NLT) 2. Hold on to Truth: Remember your offensive weapon is the truth. In a world full of upside-down thinking, you must stand strong on the firm foundation of God's Word. "Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you." (II Timothy 1:13-14, NLT) 3. Speak up for Jesus: When people ask you for an opinion on a controversial subject, don't view the conversation as a ticking time bomb that might explode in your hands. Instead, view each interaction as an opportunity to help a dead person come back to life. "So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News." (II Timothy 1:8, NLT) And now Paul has passed the torch on to us. We are called to share the Gospel in this mixed up world. No one said it was going to be easy. But, God’s Word is never bound. Maybe a world gone mad is the crucible where we are called to make Jesus known. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
I looked at the to-do list in front of me and one item jumped off the page and gave me the jitters. I’d signed up for a short-term missions trip to Cuzco, Peru, and I was sitting at my first team meeting with a group of total strangers. As my team leader read through the weekly assignments, I nodded my head in agreement. Buy a light duffel bag. Done. Update your passport. Already done. Send out a prayer letter to supporters. Working on that. Write out and memorize your 5-minute testimony and prepare to share it next week with your team. Seriously? How am I supposed to explain how Jesus has changed my life in less than an hour? I mean, I could write a whole book about how Jesus has changed my life. And, who are these people in this room? Is this a safe place to share my story? I left that night wrestling with doubts and fears, but I knew God wanted me to go on this trip. He had confirmed it in so many ways! So, I worked up some courage and wrote out my testimony. Can I tell you how thankful I am for that exercise? Narrowing down my conversion experience into a concise story and practicing sharing it with my new friends helped me lose the nervousness I’d always experienced when the opportunity arose to share Jesus with people in my everyday life. Here’s what I learned: If you want to tell other people about Jesus, you need to prepare in advance. Maybe like me you feel tongue-tied whenever the opportunity arises to share your faith. I want to share 4 simple steps to help you as you work on creating your personal testimony. Are you interested? Great, let's get started. 4 Steps to Sharing Your TestimonyStep 1 Write it out in a Paragraph of 600 to 800 words: Grab a notebook. Ask God to remind you what it felt like before you experienced His full forgiveness. Write down one or two sentences about your life before Jesus. Then, get the Gospel in there. Explain how Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and why you surrendered your life to Him as your Savior. Finally, end by sharing how Jesus impacts your daily life today. Step 2 Practice telling your God story out loud: Read your testimony to a Christian friend and ask for feedback. Make any adjustments you need for clarity, and then warm up a few times by saying your testimony out loud. (Tip: A great time to practice is if you have solo driving time in the car. Just imagine someone is sitting next to you and share your story.) Step 3 Pray for an Open Door: Start your day telling God that you are willing to share your testimony with someone. Ask Him to send people your way (Be brave!) Step 4 Watch out for Divine Appointments: Live alert. As you rub shoulders with people throughout the day, you will meet people who are seeking hope and peace in this broken world. You have the answer -- don't hesitate to share it. Remember you are not responsible for how people respond to the Good News, but you are called to proclaim it. Preparing your personal testimony in advance will set you up for success. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works: 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste our button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
Hello, August! Is it just me, or is 2017 flying by? I feel like summer just started yesterday, and it's actually already half over. This year feels like it's slipping through my fingers super fast. Can you relate? On August 1st, I turned the page to the new calendar month fresh with promise and decided I wanted to make the most of the weeks I have left. I want to squeeze more Jesus into my summer. Want to join me? I've got some ideas to share with you. 4 Ways to Get on Mission in August:1. Put on your shoes and take a prayer walk around your block. Ask God to move into the neighborhood and keep your eyes open for divine appointments. Extend a hand of friendship to anyone you meet. 2. Invite some new friends over for a movie night. Make some popcorn, show a flick that breathes life into the room. You could create cards with a few discussion questions to spark conversation afterward. 3. Host a free car wash. Make some signs, stand on the corner waving to passersby, and offer to clean up a few cars. It's a great opportunity to share with others about how Christ cleanses us -- free of charge. 4. Start your own neighborhood little league. Play referee for the kids, and then invite them to stay for some snacks after the game. Listen to their stories and be ready to share why you are on Christ's team. Summer is full of possibility. Let's make every moment count for the Kingdom. We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. Here's how it works. 1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.) 2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste my button code (found below and on the side bar). 3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. Your encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness. About Lyli
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Welcome!I'm Laura the founder of Missional Women and this is my sweet friend, Lyli. We host a link up for bloggers every Friday and look forward to having you join us. But before you go, look around, we are here to glorify God and be a blessing to you.
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