July 30th is my birthday and before sending me a birthday greeting, tweet, FB post, etc. First, let me share my three birthday wishes:
1. I wish you knew how much you mean to me.
I often brag on you (my dear blog readers). Thank you for taking the time to read and even share your stories in the process. The way you cheer and encourage me inspires me to keep going and write more. Thank you!
About a month ago, I mentioned I’ve been invited to help with the Greater Europe Mission women’s retreat in Caisis, Portugal in November. This retreat is for women currently serving with GEM. It’s an opportunity for them to step aside from a busy and demanding schedule on the mission-field and be refreshed, recharged and ready to return and live out Christ’s love.
Well, after I mentioned that it would cost approximately $1000 and asked if you’d join me, you showed up funding the entire trip in just a few days! Praise God for His faithfulness! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!
2. I wish we could bless someone.
We can! I also mentioned about a month ago about a resource I’d like to get into the hands of the women attending this retreat. It’s something they will use in their personal time with God. I’d love to share more details with you, but don’t want to spoil the surprise for those attending who may read this blog. If you would like to find out more details, please feel free to contact me.
The cost is $20 per resource, and I’m trusting God to provide the funds for 35 of these. That equals $700. The exciting thing is I can raise the funds through Greater Europe Mission.
Would you consider making a difference in the life of a missionary woman? This will be something she can take home with her and be refreshed on a daily basis and grow in her relationship with God. Maybe you’d like to bless one woman on this retreat . . . or perhaps five women! Any gift toward this would bless my birthday socks off!
Here is the link to my GEM online giving site; all gifts are tax-deductible:
https://secure-q.net/Donations/gemissionorg/9727
I can’t wait to see how God will use these resources to impact lives and remind these women how special they are!
3. I wish today and every day we’d live fully in the moment.
Even after a life-threatening disease, I still forget to live this out. I’m so grateful to celebrate my birthday on July 30. I often take life for granted.
“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
—Psalm 39:4-5
I want to be a woman who is intentional, graceful, gentle, courageous. Someone who listens, encourages, inspires, loves deeply. A woman who makes others feel special, who speaks Truth and who looks more like Jesus every day. Will you join me? Let’s be exactly where we are today and live completely dependent on Him and for His glory.