tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78086489872410518252024-03-05T20:59:49.302-05:00The 'After Church' ExperienceThe 'After Church' Experience is designed to minister to people outside of the four walls of the church building. We recognize that life's biggest challenges happen "outside" of the formal church experience. We want to ensure that our busy lifestyles make room for God. We challenge ourselves and others to show we are unashamed, undeniable, and uncompromised in our love for Jesus Christ! "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.comBlogger457125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-32052322730637739132021-12-27T10:09:00.000-05:002021-12-27T10:24:50.728-05:00ACE #457: 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW: Be All the Things<span ;="">Looking back...the honesty of it all...2019 was one of the worst years of my life, especially with the loss of my father. As 2020 approached, I had no expectation of anything special, but to recover from the previous year. Yet, 2020 proved to be the strangest, most creative, year of my life. </span><div><span ;="">In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the quietness and seclusion opened up my mind to simply THINK freely. Then 2021 became the whirlwind I never saw coming...to be all the things. I cannot adequately detail it all, but only give a year in review.</span><br>
<span ;="">As a self-publishing educator and servicer, I've assisted three clients in publishing their work and completed a three-part workshop series on self-publishing. Why? Because it was a request and a need in the market that I actually had time to fulfill...finally.</span><br>
<span ;="">As an editor (and an academic writer in a previous season), I've assisted with five dissertations and proposals. Kudos to my clients for the recommendations and referrals. I even had to refer out and get an intern because my plate was full. </span><br>
<span ;="">As a business writer/instructor (also in a previous season), I've lost count of how many resumes, vitaes, and cover letters I've done this year for clients. </span><br>
<span ;="">As an educator, I've presented or moderated three workshops/panels and co-hosted a radio segment about college and career readiness.</span><br>
<span ;="">As a businesswoman, I became the administrator of a non-profit serving readers, writers, and publishers and secured two grants for the organization. I was also a guest on Live Your Best Life podcast, Streamin' with a Purpose podcast out of the DMV, and featured in The Lextropolis Magazine twice. I was also able to represent the organization as a woman "Changing the Game" in our community.</span><br>
<span ;="">As a writer, I've had two author interviews published in online magazines and written two feature articles published in EnVision Magazine with a third coming out in January. My essay, "Healed" was featured in the She Selfish, LLC blog.</span><br>
<span ;="">As a journalist, I've co-produced and co-hosted a podcast, with a beloved friend, interviewing some of the best local talent/advocates in our community. Shoutout to my husband, Robert, for being the best creative media production expert in all of Kentucky. He has supported all of these projects behind the scenes.</span><br>
<span ;="">As a minister and a co-laborer in the ministry with my husband, we created and launched a radio program/podcast on EnVision Radio that's heard in 20 countries and completed the fifth year of our teaching ministry. And I preached virtually for the April Wilberforce University Chapel service. No, I definitely did not see that coming.</span><br>
<span ;="">And, on Dec. 1, I began a new part of my journey as an educator. </span><br>
<span ;="">A few of these opportunities came from people who I've worked with in past career assignments. And I did something I rarely do - served as my own publicist and was a guest on my own podcast thanks to my awesome co-host. Shout out to Youlonda C. Mason. </span><br>
<span ;="">Even given all of this, as a wife, a mother, and a daughter I pray I've done due diligence. I serve at home first. </span><br>
<span ;="">And #TeamLewis has been able to sow into other people and other ministries. </span><br>
<span ;="">None of this is about bragging because I have always been comfortable working quietly in the shadows. But rocks will not cry out for me. I AM GRATEFUL!</span><br>
<span ;="">Anything I've lost in the fire, God has restored, replaced, and multiplied. Anything I've asked or imagined, God has done MORE THAN that...and some things I can't tell.</span><br><span ;="">When I think about the goodness of God and all He's done for me MY SOUL CRIES OUT "HALLELUJAH!" That's an understatement of God's faithfulness, kindness, and manifested promises in my life!</span></div><div><span ;=""></span><br>
<span ;="">I exhort to you:</span><br>
<span ;="">Be all the things God purposes you for and do all the things He tells you to do! Be excellent. Oh, and sow. It guarantees the harvest.</span>
<br><br><span ;="">Now, what will 2022 hold? Only God knows...but #TeamLewis is ready. </span></div><div><span ;="">~ Charliese B. Lewis</span></div><div><span ;=""><br></span></div><div><span ;="">Social media:</span></div><div><span ;="">www.randclewisministries.com </span></div><div>www.facebook.com/charlieseblewis</div><div>www.facebook.com/theafterchurchexperience </div><div>www.envision-radio.com </div><div><br><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_211227_093629_026.sdocx--><div><span ;=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FlqBFQLQo6AgL14PDoR_cXKKUOnCT9iAbPfc0Yz-YTcK5g1cB4r-TW4tLBRAwzz191otxWAMAL3yjovGLNyF_gui3YGEx24JLlS8gNbMXMBKbLMYyVM3R2_2MmCHlRPQ-Gd9Tt3MBvc/s1600/1640616752643574-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0FlqBFQLQo6AgL14PDoR_cXKKUOnCT9iAbPfc0Yz-YTcK5g1cB4r-TW4tLBRAwzz191otxWAMAL3yjovGLNyF_gui3YGEx24JLlS8gNbMXMBKbLMYyVM3R2_2MmCHlRPQ-Gd9Tt3MBvc/s1600/1640616752643574-0.png" width="400">
</a>
</div><br></span></div></div>The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-56267002858141697702021-04-27T20:00:00.000-04:002021-04-28T15:16:13.288-04:00ACE #456: The After Church Experience: The Next Level<p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>Yes, we are back! </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>Oddly, we didn't write one blog during 2020, also known as the year of the pandemic. The year gave us time to reflect, but also time to be more creative and to assess what were our next steps in ministry and in the marketplace. </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>And here it is...</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>We will launch <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theafterchurchexperience" target="_blank">The 'After Church' Experience</a> Radio Show on <a href="https://envision-radio.com/" target="_blank">Envision Radio</a> on May 2, 2021. The first episode will air at 8:00 a.m. EST. Our show's themes will focus on many of the topics found in our blogs over the years. We want to stay true to our mission, which is applying biblical principles to our everyday lives beyond the four walls of the church building and outside of the regular worship times. </b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>We want to ensure that our busy lifestyles make room for God. We challenge ourselves and others to show we are unashamed, undeniable, and uncompromised in our love for Jesus Christ! "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35).</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>"It's what happens 'after church'!" We hope you will join us.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><b>You can follow us on Facebook at The 'After Church' Experience or on Instagram @theafterchurchexperience. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYNNHarNnIiVNnVFnmZEvjgToiqY_4YNUw9hrJ_kgO0iZQOTdodKpJuhmRMvtfYrU-kmytP5QQsBZ-VOXq5HtG_HuPcb-byAioHirKvz-NFLbuz6T6MsAjche9APtlkwF51jbk_UMync/s1440/TheBrand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYNNHarNnIiVNnVFnmZEvjgToiqY_4YNUw9hrJ_kgO0iZQOTdodKpJuhmRMvtfYrU-kmytP5QQsBZ-VOXq5HtG_HuPcb-byAioHirKvz-NFLbuz6T6MsAjche9APtlkwF51jbk_UMync/s320/TheBrand.jpg"></a></div><br><span style="font-family: arial;"><br></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>You can also Subscribe to "It's About Time: Conversations with Charliese and Youlonda" podcast on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCApptzjYt-fLS5RkkIEW5kg" target="_blank">YouTube</a> or follow on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itsabouttimeconversationswithcharlieseandyoulonda" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Just click on the links. </i></span></p>The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-18142519563762444462019-11-23T06:33:00.000-05:002019-11-23T06:33:58.509-05:00ACE #455: The New Normal<br>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
father passed away almost two months ago. Some days I wake up and I think it is
all a dream. I often ask myself questions I know the answers to like, “Did this
really happen?” or “Is he really gone forever?” The answer to both is obvious. Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’ll
be honest, I am okay with his death because he was so sick. No one ever wants
to see someone who he or she loves suffer. The reality of it, he was in pain
all the time. Cancer was ravaging his body. And, most days, I think he handled it like a champ in my eyes. By the way, I hate cancer. I don’t fully understand why he had to
go through what he went through. It leaves the age-old question, “Why do good
people suffer?” I will never have an answer for that, no matter how much time
passes. Spiritually, I was prepared for his passing. My faith has been firm. Physically, not so much...because my heart is still broken. One of my (and his) greatest joys was kissing his face when I entered or exited
a room. Actually, it was one of the last things I did before he took his last
breath. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the end of the day, my father, even in sickness, had a good life with my
mother, their children, and their grandchildren. He left a legacy in our local
community and beyond. Someone called him a hero. Another person referred to him
as a legend. He was a role model and mentor to many young men because he
specialized in body building and karate. They looked up to him. One man even
said that it was because of my Daddy that his son toughened up and was able to
go into the military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
year will be a year of “firsts”...our first holidays that we will celebrate
without him being there. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Christmas is right around the corner. And, I am finally starting to feel it…the anxiety that
comes with facing and navigating through “the new normal”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">One
of my dear friends lost her father a year ago around this time. She talked to
me specifically about how difficult that year of “firsts” was for her family.
She said this year would be different because she was going to be
intentional about planning activities that brought life to them because the
first year was so sad. I refuse to celebrate the holidays with the mindset or
outward appearance of doom and gloom. I will celebrate with
gratitude...and thanksgiving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was my and my husband’s absolute pleasure to honor and to serve my father. Even
in the “new normal” we’ll still honor him – his memory, his legacy, and his life.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy
Thanksgiving, Daddy...the first "new normal".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 61:3</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.</i></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-61-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Psalm 30:5</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-61-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">...</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;">weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.</span></i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="text-align: justify;"><br></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnQJ_CurE64OPCoAYRYSIO-tDi6K_ZH-Lnrv-h23whfY6YDusH2wiVO8DCZJ7p8DzpPbvXC69ufAEtU-hDXQH4EhvVtQqpxg8otcWSF0Ha365USLqUirBST8Mc4lU2VcVkJ8ydDpzetU/s1600/The-new-Normal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnQJ_CurE64OPCoAYRYSIO-tDi6K_ZH-Lnrv-h23whfY6YDusH2wiVO8DCZJ7p8DzpPbvXC69ufAEtU-hDXQH4EhvVtQqpxg8otcWSF0Ha365USLqUirBST8Mc4lU2VcVkJ8ydDpzetU/s320/The-new-Normal2.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #001320; text-align: justify;"><br></span></i></span></div>
<div class="poetry top-05" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div>
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-10-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-10-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></span></div>
<br>The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-75285624454040450492019-07-11T11:35:00.004-04:002019-07-11T11:43:40.592-04:00ACE #454: The Enemy Tried It<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The enemy has tried it this year! I have had a very strange one in terms of confrontation...and I am only half way through it. I have found myself in the middle of conversations with people looking around asking in my head, "Is this really happening?" or "Am I being pranked?" and even "Are they talking to me? They must be crazy!" </span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People have really tested my patience and my self-control to the point where I have literally wanted to dispel a flurry of ungodly words in their direction. But my honest response has been "ok" or no response at all. I have surprised myself many times. In those moments, I could hear the Holy Spirit speaking clearly saying, "Don't say a word" or "Just be quiet." Of course, we all have free choice to obey or to disobey God. Oftentimes, we even pretend like we didn't hear Him at all. In the flesh, I have wanted to respond to the person in the same manner in which they approached me. You know how the old saying goes, "Take your medicine where you get sick." Then, God would remind me who I am.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently, I took a look at the story of Hannah, again. I've studied it many times because Hannah has often been my "go to" story of faith. Also, Hannah's name means "grace". And all of us can use more of that.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hannah was provoked year after year by her rival, Peninnah, to the point of tears and hunger, perhaps it could have led to starvation had her faith not been sharpened by her frequent visits to the temple. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oftentimes, distraction and provocation are the only ways by which the enemy can get you off course or damage your witness. Some simple lessons I've learned from Hannah's story:</span></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not allow the enemy to provoke you into unhealthy habits.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not allow the enemy to provoke you to compromise your testimony.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not allow the enemy to provoke you out of your postition of peace.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do not allow the enemy to provoke you out of God's will for your life before you are about to give birth to your vision.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">Samuel was on the way. He was coming to be a great prophet. He was coming to anoint a great king by the name of David who is part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. So, my friends, don't take the bait. Do remember who you are so you can stay focused on God's plan.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">1 Samuel 1</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></span></h1>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text 1Sam-1-1" id="en-NIV-7214" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Birth of Samuel</span></h3>
<div class="chapter-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">1 </span>There was a certain man from Ramathaim,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7214A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7214A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> a Zuphite<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NIV-7214a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NIV-7214a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+1&version=NIV#fen-NIV-7214a" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7214B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7214B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> from the hill country<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7214C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7214C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> of Ephraim,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7214D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7214D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> whose name was Elkanah<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7214E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7214E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.</span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-2" id="en-NIV-7215" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>He had two wives;<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7215F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7215F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-3" id="en-NIV-7216" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>Year after year<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7216G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7216G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> this man went up from his town to worship<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7216H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7216H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> and sacrifice to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> Almighty at Shiloh,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7216I" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7216I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7216J" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7216J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> were priests of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-4" id="en-NIV-7217" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7217K" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7217K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7217L" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7217L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-5" id="en-NIV-7218" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>But to Hannah he gave a double portion<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7218M" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7218M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> because he loved her, and the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> had closed her womb.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7218N" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7218N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-6" id="en-NIV-7219" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>Because the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7219O" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7219O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-7" id="en-NIV-7220" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7220P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7220P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-8" id="en-NIV-7221" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7221Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7221Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-9" id="en-NIV-7222" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>’s house.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7222R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7222R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span></span> <span class="text 1Sam-1-10" id="en-NIV-7223" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>In her deep anguish<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-7223S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-7223S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> Hannah prayed to the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, weeping bitterly.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACtE4DOdJ7gcblVU4oT7weZag9ao_gKYV0XeEgvVJiXwEp_-ALP9UX1l437hyFrTL350TJS-HURRwyMTVZiVgZObYCiLN88HlCTz2cF4ItuAjbXiP3EECL2bzeXVf9HR084drORZAXtI/s1600/headacheblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACtE4DOdJ7gcblVU4oT7weZag9ao_gKYV0XeEgvVJiXwEp_-ALP9UX1l437hyFrTL350TJS-HURRwyMTVZiVgZObYCiLN88HlCTz2cF4ItuAjbXiP3EECL2bzeXVf9HR084drORZAXtI/s320/headacheblog.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">Check out my book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=charliese+lewis&qid=1562859718&s=gateway&sr=8-2" target="_blank">From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Women's Faith Stories</a></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="text 1Sam-1-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-82281926601305058702019-05-06T13:45:00.001-04:002019-05-06T21:39:53.407-04:00ACE #453: My Desire<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago, my wife and I celebrated the day we got engaged to be
married, now 16 years ago. She always remembers this day. Me, on the other
hand, I just can’t seem to remember without her reminder. It might be a man
thing. However, I should remember.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why? Because this is the day the Lord of my life blessed me
with exactly what I asked for in a good thing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(Proverbs 18:22).</b> I recall so many times just asking God for a
specific woman. I dated and, trust me, my past is ugly. But, God. Anyway, I asked
the Lord for an intelligent woman, a talented woman, and a beautiful woman. As
the song writer says, “Won’t He do it…”.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Didn’t He. Undeservingly, He blessed me with everything I
desired in a wife and then gave me what I needed in a wife. What do I mean?
Notice I didn’t say I asked for Godly woman; but He knew what it would take to help
me not to let the kid in me kill the King in me. God is so good. Even when we are not
worthy of anything He can bless us with everything we will ever need. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I think about the joy of this day, I am reminded of the
Psalm that encourages us to “delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you
the desires of your heart…”. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I look back and see how I wasn’t always walking
purposely in God, yet I had a heart for the things of God. I know He heard me. He
saw through what I was trying to be and is shaping me in to what I need to be
for Him. In that, He gave me the desires of my heart to be used for His glory. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, Lord I just thank you for this day. I am not perfect, but
Jesus was the perfect Lamb - your desires for my heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Psalm 37:4 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Take delight
in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.</i></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFhF_1ImpITth-X9t8hRjGLZwvL8Gu3aMv5fnlsF1XNguzc9vZtov1GiqtmXiA7-uy3kwdxjgjFicuzMIxj2E7Z9ptJpGY9u-1MHFzpPg-jLNlPhsuH05GkD0z6kSQZwQpN9R1_gRMg0/s1600/weddingbandhand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="565" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFhF_1ImpITth-X9t8hRjGLZwvL8Gu3aMv5fnlsF1XNguzc9vZtov1GiqtmXiA7-uy3kwdxjgjFicuzMIxj2E7Z9ptJpGY9u-1MHFzpPg-jLNlPhsuH05GkD0z6kSQZwQpN9R1_gRMg0/s320/weddingbandhand.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-81532899612802004972019-02-28T09:38:00.001-05:002019-03-01T12:58:16.588-05:00ACE #452: Integrity and Honor Still Win the Day<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my 22 years of being in my professional career, I must admit I haven't always had the best relationships with my supervisors. I learned some of the best lessons in my early years about knowing when a battle is or is not mine to fight and when to keep my mouth shut all together. But I've also learned how to stand in integrity and pride myself in working in excellence. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I'm reflecting back, I recall a time when one of my bosses did everything possible to block me from advancement to the point that I couldn't even get a job in a different department because my name had been sullied badly...like being blackballed. And it worked! I was young then and truly didn't know the dynamics of power in the workplace. But it pushed me out of the nest because I knew I couldn't win. The toxicity of the environment began to drain me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I went to my next job, took the lessons I learned, and got a promotion and a raise. But a few jobs later, my back was against the wall again. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a supervisor call me "problematic". The difference in my 20s versus my 40s...I stopped staying in jobs to be comfortable and learned to discern when my season was up. I would not have minded being called anything if it was true. But referring to me as problematic was a shot at my integrity, my character, and my performance. I could ignore most things, but I had to respond in truth. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My response went something like, "I don't know how I'm problematic. I am the first person to arrive at work everyday. I meet all of my deadlines. And my work product is always presented in excellence." And it was all 100 percent true. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The response I received was, "But you just don't seem happy here." </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I responded with, "I didn't know that was a requirement of the job. I do my job and I go home." </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I soon realized what that statement truly meant was that I didn't play office politics, suck up, or compromise my integrity to gain favor. The term "you reap what you sow" resides heavily in my spirit and in how I treat people...even in the workplace. God doesn't turn a blind eye to our behavior just because we are at work. We don't just get to say, "I'm just doing my job" in order to justify mistreating others and to abuse our authority. And you certainly don't betray others or throw them under the bus to get ahead. When you walk in God's favor, He orders your advancement and your increase.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But let me help someone out here that I learned from Bishop T.D. Jakes in his series about working in a hostile work environment - you don't go to work to make friends or to be appreciated. I've told people plenty of times that you go to work to get paid for doing a job. As long as you show up to work and do your job, then you have a reasonable expectation that you will get your paycheck. My mantra is, "The 15th and 30th." Stop allowing the environment of your workplace to penetrate your peace and your home life. But on the flip side, I learned something different. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A true leader will respect a person who works in excellence and maintains integrity even when it isn't popular. Being a supervisor and being a leader are not the same. A leader will treat people with honor and respect whether they like someone personally or not. They will make decisions that are best for the organization and not what is best for them personally. They will reward hard work and diligence, but also lead with heart. I have said many times that we often look at people as role models and examples of how to be. Sometimes the lesson is about paying attention to others so that you know how NOT to be. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I must say, I have been blessed with some of the best supervisors too. One of my former supervisors drove more than an hour and another one 45 minutes to attend my first book signing event. My immediate past and current supervisors showed up at another location to support me. They honored me with their presence and it truly brought joy to my heart. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;">And it also made me realize all the more that </span><i><span style="color: #660000;">integrity, honor, and excellence</span></i><span style="color: #073763;"> still matter...and will always win the day. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXPbqD0D8ifVaSTnKBHtRJY3LW6b_6HwolVggvTnF5SvpGzCisKnh-V62lv0VxDXwc_wd7sM-YJq7B9SGLRGBneUPqCSYVSGZlN7Lf0whh6jRyCOP1XOjMzQvIz2xfXxGSZVU3nF0GrE/s1600/integrity-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXPbqD0D8ifVaSTnKBHtRJY3LW6b_6HwolVggvTnF5SvpGzCisKnh-V62lv0VxDXwc_wd7sM-YJq7B9SGLRGBneUPqCSYVSGZlN7Lf0whh6jRyCOP1XOjMzQvIz2xfXxGSZVU3nF0GrE/s1600/integrity-300.jpg"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">1 Samuel 2:30</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text 1Sam-2-30" id="en-ESV-7271" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>Therefore the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, the God of Israel, declares: <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-7271A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-7271A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-7271B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-7271B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>but now the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="text 1Sam-2-30" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Proverbs 10:9</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;"><br></span></span><i><span style="color: #660000;">9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,<br><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">but he who makes his ways crooked <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-16666B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-16666B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>will be found out.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-91854636571826896472019-02-27T10:28:00.003-05:002019-02-27T17:57:50.947-05:00ACE #451: When Your Uterus Just Does Not Cooperate<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I
had it all planned out. The white picket fence. The millionaire, superstar husband.
Because who doesn’t want to marry a Denzel-ish kind of dude. But the 2.5 kids was <i>really</i> the non-negotiable.
After all, my mom had three kids, my maternal grandmother had four, and my paternal grandmother had seven. Having a baby
should not be that difficult, right? It ran in the family.</span><br>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
I watched Gabrielle Union sit with Oprah and talk about her journey to become a
mother, it resonated with me painfully. Because, honestly, when I think about
infertility, I just can’t fathom that any one woman really thinks at a young
age that she will not be able to get pregnant and carry a child in adulthood if she chooses. It
is usually society’s expectation. It is usually our own expectation. You know...as women.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
somehow, it just seems different for an everyday, 9 to 5 person like me walking
through the struggle of infertility versus that of a celebrity. Celebrities
seem to have the financial means to make everything happen that ordinary,
everyday people can’t. I would never downplay any celebrity woman’s struggle
either because what I realized is that heartache and pain are certainly
universal. No amount of money or lack thereof can take that away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
would I write about this? Well, because, sometimes people are insensitive and
downright rude. We were asked many times when we first got married, “So, when
are you having a baby?” Many times I wanted to yell out, “When my uterus
decides to cooperate.” Nobody truly knew the struggle. Nobody. If I’m being
honest, a barren woman wasn’t just cloaked in shame in biblical times; it is
still the reality in 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
just want to say to the women who are in the struggle, don’t give up hope. But
most of all, don’t give up your joy in the process. You’re just as much a
woman, a whole woman, without giving birth. Hold your head up high and keep
loving…you…your spouse…your life…your future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
get the full story of my journey to become a mother, you can read “And a Happy
New Year” in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q" target="_blank"><i>From the Test to theTestimony: An Anthology of Women’s Faith Stories</i>.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I hope it blesses you.<o:p></o:p></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04rbQ6zPIgLrtYYkurEjKrZB57-mD5kxznS-dXLoIXWxsgetAfAnsF527bswM1MvKHbJVCfvVGmxm32_4FTbSWNOwGP2P-EWhcyPpbW4M8vdqJBxoasWNqD7qRpaNYu35ziGrbLnvSss/s1600/broken+heart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04rbQ6zPIgLrtYYkurEjKrZB57-mD5kxznS-dXLoIXWxsgetAfAnsF527bswM1MvKHbJVCfvVGmxm32_4FTbSWNOwGP2P-EWhcyPpbW4M8vdqJBxoasWNqD7qRpaNYu35ziGrbLnvSss/s1600/broken+heart.png"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><br></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>Luke 1: 25</b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #e06666;">"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br></span></div>
<br>
<br>
<br>The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-13331531205825533962019-02-14T15:30:00.003-05:002019-02-16T23:41:55.045-05:00ACE #450: Just Listen<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2015, God whispered three things to me in a still, small voice. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. He told me to contact a few specific women to each write a story about a time in their lives where their faith pulled them through a very difficult circumstance. Not every woman responded to the request. The ones who did, I saved their stories in a file. Then life got busy. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. He told me the words "For Purpose" and led me to draft a list of services for editing and public relations. I saved the information in a document and filed it away. I hadn't really used my Journalism degree in years, so it would never have occurred to me I would revisit this document...ever. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. He told me and my husband to expand our ministry efforts. That year we said "yes" to every ministry opportunity, if we were available. We were exhausted, but we did as God had instructed. It included me editing both a relative's and a friend's book. Again, life got busy and my time and attention went elsewhere. </span><br>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In June 2018, I filed paperwork for Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries Inc. That was when God reminded me of those things I had filed, really tucked away, with no specific plan years ago. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to February 2019, I can say that it all makes sense and God certainly does all things well. I had no idea what God was doing THEN.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories/dp/1729123368/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank">"From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Faith Stories"</a> was released in November 2018...and it is impacting women's lives. I've been stopped in grocery stores, department stores, and received messages from women who have read the book.</span><br>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I randomly sent a text to one of my former students and mentee last week and told him to order the book for his mother. I dropped a copy in the mail the next day. He called me last night and said his mom received her book and was going on and on about how good it was. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He continued with, "Mrs. Lewis, she has told everybody about this book and said she can't put it down." </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No, this is not about bragging. This is about <span style="color: #a64d79;">gratitude</span>. This is about <span style="color: #a64d79;">obedience</span>. This is about the fact that I truly had no clue what God was doing in 2015 that speaks to the <span style="color: #a64d79;">NOW</span>. The seven women, including me, who were brave enough to tell their stories are impacting women in other cities and states. God has truly blown my mind. All I ever desired is that if one woman is impacted, just one, we'd all done our part. Who knew? We didn't, but our all-knowing God did. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've sold a few books at my doctor's office, in the wee hours of the morning via social media inbox, and out of my trunk. Seriously, who knew? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, yesterday, I sent a client's first draft of a fully edited and formatted manuscript for the release of her first self-published book. Again, I had no idea that what God had me write down in 2015 would manifest itself years later as a consultant service under our ministry. No idea. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will tell anybody that God orchestrates everything on our behalf if we would just listen to His instructions. Abraham is known as the Father of Faith because he listened and acted in obedience even in the sacrifice of his own son atop a mountain. Likewise, Joseph listened to God's instructions and saved thousands of people from famine, including his own family, even though he spent years in prison for a crime he was not guilty of. Jesus himself came in human form to die on a cross for sins He didn't even commit because of His obedience to His Father, our heavenly Father.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to encourage someone to get in the habit of listening to the still, small voice of God because you never know when or how your instructions TODAY will set you on the path to your future. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just listen...</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</b></i></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Image result for for i know that plans i have for you declares the lord" src="http://www.designsbyrhainydays.com/thumbnail.asp?file=assets/images/jeremiah2911.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=0"></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span>
<br>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read: <a href="https://theafterchurchexperience.blogspot.com/2018/12/ace-447-still-small-voice.html" target="_blank">"The Still Small Voice"</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-50475485184834918512019-01-13T10:23:00.001-05:002019-01-13T10:23:24.619-05:00ACE #449: So, What Took So Long?<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Several
people have asked me, “So, what took so long to get this book out to the
public?” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If
I’m being honest, the answer simply put is, “Life.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
November 2015, I solicited a request for 12 women to write a reflection about
their faith for a specific project that the Lord dropped into my spirit in the
wee hours of the morning. I knew all of the women would not respond, but I knew
who God led me to for this assignment. It was really an act of obedience. When
it came down to it, only six women responded; I was the seventh. Since seven
represents the biblical sign of completion, I was fine with that. I took it as
a sign from God that a complete work would be done at the end of this project.
And, then, life happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
first time I tried to compile the stories, the document didn’t save…at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to start over. I was
frustrated and took my time getting back to the document. When I started on it
for the second time it worked, but it was very time consuming and complicated
to copy from one application to another. What I thought would be a simple
process wasn’t simple at all. Sometimes I had to retype certain paragraphs
because they wouldn’t copy the right way. Then my job got hectic and I couldn’t
commit the time because I was exhausted when I got home in the evenings. When
the job got unbearable, I had to put all of my energy into getting a new
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when distraction truly set
in. Also, I was supposed to be completing my doctoral degree. I couldn’t fathom
doing two very different types of writing at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Research writing and nonfiction writing are
very complex all on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain
would have been stretched entirely too far to imagine, especially when I was
also having to shift my mind into an editing mode. While I would love to
believe that it was all about external factors, it was just as much about the
internal struggle within me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over
the last three years, something has shifted in me. I went from being academic
minded to being ministry minded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to
say a person can’t be both, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I</i> just
couldn’t do or be both. I’d changed. I’d grown differently. My ambitions for
the marketplace shifted into discipleship. God's call on my life is priority. So, I made a choice...a choice most people might not understand. It was an act of obedience to surrender the old me to who God has called me to be in my kingdom assignment. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can honestly say
that I am on my path to purpose. God knew it all along. It feels real. It feels right. It feels
ordained. It’s freeing. It was necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
am grateful for the women who stuck with me all the way until completion. They
trusted the Word that God gave me – this book would help women all over the
world…because OUR testimonies are worth sharing. We invite you to read our faith
stories. We invite you into an intimate part of our lives. </span><span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h1 class="passage-display" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-right: 6px;">Philippians 1:6</span> <span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline;">New International Version (NIV)</span></span></h1>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span class="text Phil-1-6" id="en-NIV-29368" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29368A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29368A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span> until the day of Christ Jesus.</i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hHmDJmwPunnyllN5IPcgaLfvq3mHbBw112aWdCObnRTNPlf1NLzLsHmGyvrBOmeHAVRWuBsxWTC5cksa6HRSM43aGhCoPYoH-gYAVkFcTIJ8PYhfzIe3vpISyebruiqacmzhoD1kZF0/s1600/book_cover-CBLewis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1600" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9hHmDJmwPunnyllN5IPcgaLfvq3mHbBw112aWdCObnRTNPlf1NLzLsHmGyvrBOmeHAVRWuBsxWTC5cksa6HRSM43aGhCoPYoH-gYAVkFcTIJ8PYhfzIe3vpISyebruiqacmzhoD1kZF0/s320/book_cover-CBLewis.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q" target="_blank">From The Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Women's Faith Stories</a></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial narrow" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-48301968600703502082019-01-07T08:35:00.002-05:002019-01-08T08:31:24.742-05:00ACE #448: “What Do You Have to Say for Yourself?”<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What if you knew when your time was going to be up here on this
side? What if you had an opportunity to plan what you would say about your
living on this side? What would it be?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Can you honestly say you have done all you can to be what
God has called you to be? Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I have fought the good the fight. I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith.”</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is this your valedictory as well? The witness of the Apostle
Paul is amazing. After being converted, he knew the price it would take to be a
true follower of Christ Jesus. He knew he had to reach with, teach and preach the Gospel. He
was still all in. He knew his death would not end it, but it would only be the beginning.
This is what he had to say for himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends, following Christ and doing His will is not easy.
Like Paul, we are going to experience hardships, tests, heartache and enemies.
We may have even started out as enemies to Christ. However, when it is all said and done there will be a crown of
righteousness laid up for those who love Him and keep His commands. How’s your
fight? How are you finishing? How’s your faith? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“What do have to say for yourself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Timothy 4:6-8<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNaF9NfkFoAfyENU6g1EhlK7lqiAnSqMcxn_8umsXpcLaX3sS42UY1O9Mk4DLZRayeWwlDjGE0ZiL1Fveb74YQA9DCCZd1vEabGybVLD2SnThgzcT1llA14DO381dZENTcmOY6HJxquk/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNaF9NfkFoAfyENU6g1EhlK7lqiAnSqMcxn_8umsXpcLaX3sS42UY1O9Mk4DLZRayeWwlDjGE0ZiL1Fveb74YQA9DCCZd1vEabGybVLD2SnThgzcT1llA14DO381dZENTcmOY6HJxquk/s320/4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715510927149678838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-63726283402980265322018-12-20T13:22:00.001-05:002018-12-20T19:34:11.792-05:00ACE #447: The Still Small Voice<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the last few years, God has given me a song, a word (or words), and a specific study each year. </span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2015, the song was "Worth Fighting For" by Brian Courtney Wilson. My word was <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #990000;">Loyalty</span></span>. I studied Judas, Delilah, Jezebel and Laban Spirits along with the minor prophets. God was really showing me the character of my enemies, but also the ins and outs of my own character. It was a time where I had to be the most self-reflective.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2016, the song was "Send the Rain" by William McDowell. My word was <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #990000;">Integrity</span></span>. I studied the process of reaping and sowing. It was a time I had to be very intentional about the seeds I sowed and the soil in which I sowed them. I was especially generous to those who were in need.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2017, the song was "You Will Win" by Jekalyn Carr. My words were <span style="color: #990000;">Peace</span> and <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #990000;">Quietness</span></span>. I studied and taught the book "Golden Fruit" about the Fruit of the Spirit. I worked extremely hard to remain obedient to God's will and His way. In the second half of that year, I only said what God told me to say when up against my enemies. More often that not, He wouldn't let me say anything. But God declared that through Him I would be victorious over my enemies; He would make it so.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In 2018, the song has been "A Great Work" by Brian Courtney Wilson. My word continues to be <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #990000;">Transparency</span></span>. I studied about purpose, ministry assignments and, particularly, hearing God's voice. I read and taught the book "Who Speaks to Your Heart: Tuning in to Hear God's Whispers." I will tell anyone, whether they ask or not, this book changed my life. It changed my life so much, that it encouraged me to finish my first book,<span style="color: #b45f06;"> "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q" target="_blank">From the Test to the Testimony: An Anthology of Faith Stories</a>."</span> I am grateful for the women who saw the project all the way through to end...even after three years of waiting. But God's timing is always the best timing. We launched our business this year and held our first women's conference. Those things developed over a five-year journey of figuring out our callings. Again, God's timing is everything.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> As the close of 2018 is quickly approaching, God has given me my word, in a still small voice - <span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="color: #990000;">Surge</span></span>. I can't wait to see that thing manifest. Even if I imagine it, it won't be adequate for what God can and will do. Ironically enough, as I was driving, I ran straight into a sign that said Surge and I took a picture. I wasn't even looking for it. I know I am on the right track.</span></span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you set your annual goals for 2019, steal away to a quiet place, a secret place, and get into the presence of the Lord so that you too can hear that still small voice give you your song, your word, your study, and your instructions for the year. All you have to do is listen.</span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMeywD7tx-5fjYUq0luCbWgNnZMH9YBMf9xJ7zGvpvmvoRZDBGXRb6Gn2rMOUdMgAO-52sIfGM_0uFdDcuSRe43aKv9nyUhDobj30KzEJpjeKUeDE1er28meBWQFa-Hl15SXJsfqAtL8/s1600/surge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMeywD7tx-5fjYUq0luCbWgNnZMH9YBMf9xJ7zGvpvmvoRZDBGXRb6Gn2rMOUdMgAO-52sIfGM_0uFdDcuSRe43aKv9nyUhDobj30KzEJpjeKUeDE1er28meBWQFa-Hl15SXJsfqAtL8/s320/surge2.jpg" width="320"></a></span></span></div>
<br>
<br>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The <span style="color: #b45f06;">REVIEWS</span> are out on <span style="color: #b45f06;">"<a href="https://www.randclewisministries.com/book-reviews" target="_blank">From the Test to the Testimony</a>".</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span>
<br>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-64841253359758146092018-12-09T05:39:00.001-05:002018-12-11T21:58:04.521-05:00ACE #446: Simply Grateful<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anybody who REALLY knows me, knows I'm content to stay in the shadows and just do the work. I'm cool with being in the back of the room serving in a watchman position. (But God is shifting that).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this last week alone, I have gotten THE BEST and most unexpected messages, cards, emails, etc. from people who see what God is doing in my/our lives. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some have thanked me for a seed sown in their childhood (my 20's)...when I didn't even have any grace about me. I would just say anything...I mean anything...with absolutely no filter...and they still listened.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My LinkedIn page has had more traffic in a week than it's had in five years from folk I haven't seen or heard from in years - former classmates, former co-workers, acquaintances from years past, and even strangers.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I appreciate, the most, the folk who walked with me and prayed for me in my valley moments, my Joseph dark pit days, my unsure how to get to purpose evenings...you know, even when I was trying to make a dollar out of fifteen cent days. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q">"From the Test to the Testimony"</a></span> is touching the hearts of people. I am SO thankful for the women who shared their faith stories and trusted me with them. I can honestly say that the three-year wait was well worth it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And women have shared how the Level Up Women's Conference was life-changing for them in some way. (I have no idea how to top that in 2019).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll tell anybody, I've learned to accept THY will over MY will over the years and it makes all the difference. <i>Obedience is the key to unlocking doors, windows, and crawl spaces!</i> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God is awesome...and my hubby is cool as a fan❗</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm simply grateful.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
#grateful<br>
#lookatGod<br>
#2019iseeyou<br>
#timetoRESET</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-136-1" id="en-NIV-16198">Psalm 136</span></span></h3>
<div class="poetry">
<div class="line">
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Ps-136-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>Give thanks to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, for he is good.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-1"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-2" id="en-NIV-16199"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Give thanks to the God of gods.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-2"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-3" id="en-NIV-16200"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Give thanks to the Lord of lords:</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-3"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="line">
<br></div>
<div class="line">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ9Jo99gNfwuGOk1vsAqu3xv0Ql68UBs6QOYrIzN3kmT5N59P0fNzLL2m-fU1FOpSm2wly6T4N9ZvQMJhMyG9FZcvnZfJyXG2zkyYqG3UzJOPjY148d8o0sWlpTebhvJIYyAGVNp5G3Q/s1600/grateful-thankful-blessed_800x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ9Jo99gNfwuGOk1vsAqu3xv0Ql68UBs6QOYrIzN3kmT5N59P0fNzLL2m-fU1FOpSm2wly6T4N9ZvQMJhMyG9FZcvnZfJyXG2zkyYqG3UzJOPjY148d8o0sWlpTebhvJIYyAGVNp5G3Q/s320/grateful-thankful-blessed_800x.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div class="line">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">From the Test to the Testimony is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Test-Testimony-Anthology-Womens-Stories-ebook/dp/B07K2KGX3Q</span></span></div>
</div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-10289061839774007752018-12-06T15:16:00.000-05:002018-12-09T05:39:42.238-05:00ACE #445: Are You Ready to 'Level Up'?<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Philippians 3:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">13 </span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brethren, I do not count myself to have <sup>[</sup></span></i><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A13-14&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-29435a" title="See footnote a"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">a</span></sup></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">]</span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">apprehended; but
one thing <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I do,</span> forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, <sup>14 </sup>I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
past weekend, Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries Inc. hosted our first
women’s conference with the theme, “Level Up: Reaching for the Higher Calling.”
Saying it was <span style="color: red;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">awesome</i></span> is an
understatement. God truly got the glory! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
focused our workshops in three areas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mental
Health and Wellness<o:p></o:p></span></span><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Spiritual
Growth and Development<o:p></o:p></span></span><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">Personal
Growth and Purpose</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
primary goals were to shed light on personal, cultural, and spiritual topics
that are relevant for individual growth and to our local communities. Further,
we wanted to encourage the attendees to make new connections and embark upon
new relationships – personally, professionally, and spiritually. I believe the
goals were accomplished…and then some.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As I reflect, what
I realize most is that God prepares us for our next level through the good,
the bad, and the ugly. We might think that life has dealt us a bad hand when,
in fact, God is helping us to hone our skills and our gifts, and also
strengthening our prayer lives and our faith to elevate us to the next level –
a higher, more challenging, more rewarding position. It’s been said on many occasions
that <span style="color: red;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the crushing brings the oil</i></span>. The
crushing position keeps us humble, but truly allows that anointing to flow much
more freely. While there is often pain in the crushing, there is great value. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Don’t
say that you want to “level up” if you’re not ready to endure the crushing; it’s
part of the process. Are you ready to <span style="color: red;">‘level up’</span>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ-8NLnbjNuNUB7WDxEwOn6R2nq5YNb0qbwtpYyPhBIrVAee2OximgKJO18Jo0I75SYZRWFCPxkHiJMVPDtCw9tB3gqlZmpZLmmfOVizlaxM82osEBo0SSeQNVoBZsz-_dKPVp0zGr4o/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJ-8NLnbjNuNUB7WDxEwOn6R2nq5YNb0qbwtpYyPhBIrVAee2OximgKJO18Jo0I75SYZRWFCPxkHiJMVPDtCw9tB3gqlZmpZLmmfOVizlaxM82osEBo0SSeQNVoBZsz-_dKPVp0zGr4o/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck
down, but not destroyed” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV).</span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-5407881731527220992018-11-17T07:33:00.002-05:002018-11-17T16:02:48.461-05:00ACE #444: When a Deferred Dream Becomes Reality<div align="left" style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 13px;">
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than 20 years ago, when I was doing my student teaching, I taught a unit on "A Raisin in the Sun". I used Langston Hughes' "Dream Deferred" as my introduction into the unit. As a 22-year-old young adult, I thought that life was going to be easy and all of my dreams would be realized...and quickly. I didn't know that "life" would actually get in the way. I had it all figured out about what, I thought, would be the American Dream.</span></div>
<div align="left" style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 13px;">
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would be a millionaire by 40...I'm 44...and not.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would have 2.5 kids naturally...and that is not the case.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would live in a $1.5 million mansion...not quite, but someday...maybe...if I can afford a housekeeper because I despise cleaning and I am allergic to dust.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would be married to the man of my dreams; he looked more like Denzel Washington...but my husband is kinda cute and walks with a Denzel swagger...or so I'm told.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would have the bomb dot com career; I was destined to become a White House staffer...then there's that Olivia Pope thing...smh...no thanks.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would have celebrity friends who were movers and shakers in the entertainment industry.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">But I am a witness that God does all things well. This is what I actually got:</span></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A good paying job with benefits, health insurance, and a retirement plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One healthy, brilliant, beautiful daughter...not naturally at all...by any means.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A beautiful home that is decorated just like I like it in a cozy neighborhood with cool neighbors.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A husband after God's own heart who ministers to the sick and shut-in and preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ like nobody's, but everybody's, business.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A modest career in education working with children everyday.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very few friends who I can call for anything, but those few can intercede for me at the drop of a dime and encourage me behind the scenes, yet expect nothing in return.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, now, I just published my first book with seven stories from women who have struggled with this very thing we call "life", but held on to their faith in Jesus Christ to become better for His glory. We've conquered depression, rejection, abandonment, grief, suicidal thoughts, identify confusion, infertility, and even addiction. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the beginning, I was built for ministry. It was always inside of me, but I had to surrender to God's will and His way. When I gave up MY will for God's will over my life, my deferred dreams became reality.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3c605b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3c605b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to encourage you today that if you have an unrealized dream, wake it up! Dig deeply inside of who you are and examine the things you really want to be...and be all of them!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3c605b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3c605b;">I invite you to read, </span><i><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729123368/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1542456554&sr=8-2&keywords=charliese+brown+lewis">From the Test to the Testimony</a></span></i><span style="color: #3c605b;">. I promise, it will bless you.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3c605b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Dream Deferred </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">by Langston Hughes</span></div>
</div>
<div style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 20px;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happens to a dream deferred?<br /><br />Does it dry up<br />Like a raisin in the sun?<br /><br />Or fester like a sore--<br />And then run?<br /><br />Does it stink like rotten meat?<br />Or crust and sugar over--<br />like a syrupy sweet?<br /><br />Maybe it just sags<br />like a heavy load.<br /><br />Or does it explode?</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 20px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeremiah 29:11-13</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="passage-display-version" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div>
<div style="padding-left: 14px; padding-top: 20px;">
<div class="left-1 child-first-line-1 top-05">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19647A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19647B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19647C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span> <span class="text Jer-29-12" id="en-NIV-19648"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Then you will call<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19648D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> on me and come and pray<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19648E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> to me, and I will listen<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19648F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19648F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> to you.</span> </i></span><span class="text Jer-29-13" id="en-NIV-19649"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>You will seek<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19649G" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19649G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.</i></span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-19649H" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19649H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="text Jer-29-13"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Aez37gDUr_WdvQk8nNZbdg5uxhbMqdPkqcKK9oUIPcex1mgST8oTuTp4h5M_kbNXqAiSsZoNeyjN_gX6SRWDHA7L2eXFKhgIcCStDzATmecOi6lrVzGI1Hv0Q8y33B2eSrSNNrWAywI/s1600/ebook_cover-CBLewis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Aez37gDUr_WdvQk8nNZbdg5uxhbMqdPkqcKK9oUIPcex1mgST8oTuTp4h5M_kbNXqAiSsZoNeyjN_gX6SRWDHA7L2eXFKhgIcCStDzATmecOi6lrVzGI1Hv0Q8y33B2eSrSNNrWAywI/s320/ebook_cover-CBLewis.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Available in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729123368/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1542456554&sr=8-2&keywords=charliese+brown+lewis">paperback</a> and e-book.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55vDXu7Zcpw3MRw6zPcoowhCm_8SQHQNL2qKbSBsX3diPrsHBhpoqL8LwGgfwd2e_W9mq-JCJu-2EbI2PRO3CL_uBM8qMTxvjMX3lbZ9FEfSXJmXqFwumnwanRo0YAi9jRahBVdmAd0k/s1600/1+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55vDXu7Zcpw3MRw6zPcoowhCm_8SQHQNL2qKbSBsX3diPrsHBhpoqL8LwGgfwd2e_W9mq-JCJu-2EbI2PRO3CL_uBM8qMTxvjMX3lbZ9FEfSXJmXqFwumnwanRo0YAi9jRahBVdmAd0k/s320/1+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And we're rocking a new logo for the blog and a new website at <a href="https://www.randclewisministries.com/">https://www.randclewisministries.com</a>! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-20580014855571955062018-11-01T05:49:00.000-04:002018-11-01T08:25:24.023-04:00ACE #443: From the Test to the Testimony<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Version>15.00</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Robert and Charliese Lewis
Ministries Inc. Releases <b><span style="color: #990000;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">From the Test to
the Testimony: An Anthology of Women’s Faith Stories</i></span></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Three-Year Project Comes to Life</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">LEXINGTON,
Ky., Nov. 1, 2018 – Charliese Brown Lewis never thought she would finish a
project after two years of letting it sit on the shelf literally.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">From the Test to the
Testimony: An Anthology of Women's Faith Stories </span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">chronicles the journeys of seven
different women of various ages who depended on their faith in God to see them
through the most difficult circumstances. Each woman tells a very specific story
that takes her from the test to the testimony.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“Three
years ago, I was led to some very specific women to ask them to share a
reflection story for a special project I had in mind,” Lewis said. “These
stories were very personal, so I had to deal with them with care because I was
asking these women to revisit some tough places, both emotionally and
spiritually, from their pasts.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Lewis
admits that life got in the way of moving the project forward initially, but she
also had to recall some painful memories of her own in order to be transparent
for other women who could be going through a similar situation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">“The
stories are personal, intimate, and real,” she said. “As an editor and a writer
I had to replay their situations and my own throughout the entire process from
draft to finished product. There is a true fight for each of us to move from
struggle to triumph primarily through our faith.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This
collection deals with many issues common to the everyday woman from managing
chronic illness, depression, and suicidal thoughts to finding purpose, peace,
and the power of forgiveness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Lewis
stated, “I wanted to make sure that the stories would be read, but also that
the readers could truly relate to the issues that we each dealt with. At the end of each story is a series of questions to assist the readers in self-reflection
with hopes of helping them heal or, at least, encouraging them to get help to
heal.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Contributors
include Stephanie Chisley, Doris Coffey, Ashley Edwards, Marietta Finkley,
La’Tonsia Howard, Jacques Watkins and Lewis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">From the Test to the
Testimony: An Anthology of Women’s Faith Stories</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> is available on Amazon as an
e-book (preorder) and a paperback (Nov.30). It is the company’s first
independently published book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Paperback cover
price:</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> $12.99; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K2KGX3Q?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420&fbclid=IwAR1Fl9RQ1kGsGpA2C6Qn9p2RHcdt04I8buJeAnchdULJHA_HM0jpy3UCD4k"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">E-book:</b> $5.99</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CHARLIESE BROWN LEWIS</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
is an educator, writer, and speaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
is the editor and co-author of The ‘After Church’ Experience blog and president
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries
Inc.,</i> which she co-founded with her husband. Charliese and her family
reside in Kentucky.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiy9pedTQYooJVjZ-ncL7rYpxPpaZzoVON9cd2UKnjnM4jcVt-mDIOXdRTslEVm89OsPvgGiRw7Bz3Z6aIYi4LzYKpvNqsPoVNC5gPkPi3mvZ_a6q2NiAIHTPMVhwMiWIqrnvK4pJ_Yw/s1600/eBookCover-CB-Revised+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguiy9pedTQYooJVjZ-ncL7rYpxPpaZzoVON9cd2UKnjnM4jcVt-mDIOXdRTslEVm89OsPvgGiRw7Bz3Z6aIYi4LzYKpvNqsPoVNC5gPkPi3mvZ_a6q2NiAIHTPMVhwMiWIqrnvK4pJ_Yw/s320/eBookCover-CB-Revised+%25283%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-80504496303319338242018-01-17T13:37:00.002-05:002018-01-17T13:37:22.083-05:00ACE #442: Affordable Care <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, there is so much discussion around the Affordable Care Act. Many are saying "Repeal and replace" it. You have others saying leave it. It's helped so many. Yet others say it's causing this or it's causing that - what seems like it should be a good thing (affordable care) has really caused a lot of confusion and controversy around the country. Our own selfish ways and desires have taken over the thought of having Christ-like love for those in need. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Philippians 2:4, Paul said, "look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." </span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul's letter was written in response to the church being so gracious to his needs while in prison. Paul expressed thanks to a church whose love was unequaled in a time when he needed it the most. It was to a church that believed it could afford to care about the well-being of someone in need - a lesson in Christian living and loving with the mind of Christ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends, many times in life we miss awesome opportunities to care for each other because we feel we can't afford to do it. Somehow, it becomes more about our needs and what is best for us instead of us trusting God to show us how others will be blessed from our selfless love. Whether we are rich or poor, there are still opportunities to think of others. Sure, we may never understand how beneficial the medical affordable care act is, but as Christians we can still afford to care for our brothers and sisters in need. Don't always be so interested and concerned with your needs, but show some love to the interests of others . We can afford to do that!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTMJzbrvx5F6fOLkabRZ96ektveCNj08iLivXYWE7Y29-Kc87Is5n0_nZHSz8cVAtPUJINwNrc4r79h2rZ8zan44PobjhdgWHZZT-RTkQQx707D2PvYYOkwUFb-RwSDeqwkwAJGpPWM/s1600/cardiology-stethoscope-medical-sketch-illustration-hand-drawn-animation_r39cqtzt__F0013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTMJzbrvx5F6fOLkabRZ96ektveCNj08iLivXYWE7Y29-Kc87Is5n0_nZHSz8cVAtPUJINwNrc4r79h2rZ8zan44PobjhdgWHZZT-RTkQQx707D2PvYYOkwUFb-RwSDeqwkwAJGpPWM/s320/cardiology-stethoscope-medical-sketch-illustration-hand-drawn-animation_r39cqtzt__F0013.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715510927149678838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-85365220567933179362017-04-02T06:16:00.001-04:002017-04-02T06:29:50.064-04:00ACE #441: Will You Obey?<p dir="ltr">When God tells you to relay a message to someone or to give them specific instructions, you do it, then they reject it...at least you've been obedient.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">Naaman almost missed his blessing, his miracle, his healing because he got all in his feelings and it didn't come from or in the way he thought it should.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Please get out of your own way and out of God's way and simply be obedient. You're gonna fool around and miss the manifestation of His glory. Your breakthrough doesn't depend on the messenger or even your convenience; it depends on your ability to trust God and your obedience to His instructions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">2 Kings 5 New International Version (NIV)</p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>Naaman Healed of Leprosy</i><br>
<i>5 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.[a]</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents[b] of silver, six thousand shekels[c] of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.</i></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0fYenLVhNDwMEjHmtog3m0NQpAODvrZgZzopPGha4njT07EZSbqakoPxZNDBhg7o6W1KLq9e-hdKbM-ACm8t3uNIhK4NYm8PmUjvyPQadMZyF35jC5V8ufnUAjFA8pdbiSLCLfNcfpg/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0fYenLVhNDwMEjHmtog3m0NQpAODvrZgZzopPGha4njT07EZSbqakoPxZNDBhg7o6W1KLq9e-hdKbM-ACm8t3uNIhK4NYm8PmUjvyPQadMZyF35jC5V8ufnUAjFA8pdbiSLCLfNcfpg/s640/10.jpg"> </a> </div>The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-17738401290869204862017-04-01T07:01:00.001-04:002017-04-11T08:52:08.926-04:00ACE #440: The Promise...<div dir="ltr">
There's been a prophetic word spoken to me several times. The very first time was 10 years ago and it has been repeated on occassion year after year. But it has yet to come to pass. That's a long time, isn't it?</div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is what I realized in the holding pattern:<br />
1. Recognize if the speaker is authentic<br />
2. Recognize if God said it to me<br />
3. Realize God's timing is perfect<br />
4. Understand His ways are not our ways<br />
5. Pray about it<br />
6. Search His Scriptures <br />
7. Trust His plan<br />
8. Keep sowing & working</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Hebrews 11:1</div>
<div dir="ltr">
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
James 2:18</div>
<div dir="ltr">
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
...and yet will I trust Him. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
Keep the faith. Stay in peace. Hold on to the promise. God cannot lie!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1XihLpG91C97-6gr-9fKx8qRgUqXskHhcfmMZJsp0u6yK2oaTdXJJGvVSzYaSMh_2Q1ofHhqr86xTBDYWyIFZrFdlwjMiQppnYrzll15XRH1m2xkN0PI1JtTWOKaz4v-1_2sQ6FIsjA/s1600/God-promises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1XihLpG91C97-6gr-9fKx8qRgUqXskHhcfmMZJsp0u6yK2oaTdXJJGvVSzYaSMh_2Q1ofHhqr86xTBDYWyIFZrFdlwjMiQppnYrzll15XRH1m2xkN0PI1JtTWOKaz4v-1_2sQ6FIsjA/s400/God-promises.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-45784246254879916472017-03-28T08:59:00.000-04:002017-03-28T08:59:08.002-04:00ACE #439: What Really Happens 'After Church'?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>This article was posted in a newsletter last summer for the Kentucky Annual Conference of the AME Church. I thought it was important that I share it more broadly with our audience. I have updated it to reflect more recent activity. Enjoy!</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For a little over a year, my husband and I tried to
figure out what ministry we could do <i>together</i>. He was already doing a Men’s Basketball
Fellowship Ministry. I was serving as
the coordinator for the Women’s Fellowship Ministry at our church and as the
long-time church pianist. At the time,
we were both working on a college campus, so our days were fairly exhausting by
the time we finished our daily commute and tended to our daughter. Even still, we knew there was more ministry
work to be done, not just in the church, but in the community and beyond. As we both reflected on our professional
careers and the thin line we had to maintain between our professional positions
and our witness for Christ, we wanted to be mindful of how we represented and
conveyed the messages about the God we serve.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One morning while sitting at my desk at work, the Lord
clearly said that it was necessary to reach beyond the four walls of the church
building, especially if we wanted to reach our students who often seemed
misguided, broken, confused, hurt and unsupported. I shared the idea with my husband; he was
hesitant at first. Writing is my thing -
not his. He agreed that this was where
we would begin; The ‘After Church’ Experience blog was born on September 13,
2013. Little did we know that this
occasional publication of online articles would expand into what would become
part of our “greater works” for the Lord.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>What is The ‘After Church’ Experience?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The 'After Church' Experience is an online platform designed
to minister to people outside of the four walls of the church building. We
recognize that life's biggest challenges happen "outside" of the
formal church experience. We want to ensure that our busy lifestyles make room
for God. We challenge ourselves and others to show we are unashamed,
undeniable, and uncompromised in our love for Jesus Christ! "By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"
(John 13:35).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Out of the birth of this small ministry has come the
idea about a week night Men’s Prayer Call that Robert leads along with our
pastor. It was his desire to see the men
of the church grow and strengthen their prayer lives to cover their families
and to become greater leaders in the church.
As for me, something else developed that was really a personal call for
obedience – the bi-weekly Bible Study Buddy Conference Call for
non-clergy. I had often heard people
talk about the difficulties of studying and interpreting the scripture as well
as the time constraints they have during the week. This new venture was perfect timing. We studied the Minor Prophets,
rotating between Thursday evenings and early Saturday mornings. It was taxing, but well worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Participants for both ministries hail from
Kentucky and as far as Texas and Maryland.
With more than 50,000 total page views, readers for our blog have
represented several countries including the United States, Germany, Argentina,
France, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, Malaysia,
India, the United Kingdom, China, Ukraine, Indonesia and Russia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The online ministry has also expanded to include
audiovisual presentations, because that’s his thing. We’ve also adopted the tagline: <i>It’s what happens ‘after church’!</i> After all, that is what true discipleship is
all about – going out and making disciples – by any means necessary. We are grateful for the vision God has given
and continues to give us as we work within His will and His way. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YKdGpyoMfBVw3he9RzqCFm-yKNFZl1mleN08padq-Z7clcUacAvcsonQRqn8s1E078RO5yvDPn5VXtoSfFzUC_zQGsc-Ov5eyXtu-Xo_0G71qFXjDl24E5hZxBp2mTSX20Fn35WDgeA/s1600/13880121_1054180467992720_2711263601310107497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YKdGpyoMfBVw3he9RzqCFm-yKNFZl1mleN08padq-Z7clcUacAvcsonQRqn8s1E078RO5yvDPn5VXtoSfFzUC_zQGsc-Ov5eyXtu-Xo_0G71qFXjDl24E5hZxBp2mTSX20Fn35WDgeA/s320/13880121_1054180467992720_2711263601310107497_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-27542569174502244132017-01-12T14:40:00.000-05:002017-01-12T14:40:23.407-05:00ACE #438: What Happened to Your Fire?<div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.55em; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px;">
<span class="text Matt-5-13" id="en-NIV-23248" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Salt and Light</span></span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.<br /><br />14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.</i><br /><br />I have had the Men of Standard CD, <i>Feels Like Rain</i>, for many years. As I've become older and more spiritually mature, I have learned many lessons from it. The song, <i>Don't Lose Your Candlestick</i>, is one of my favorites. It talks about how we, as Christians and ministry leaders, lose our candlestick - our fire, our light - because we have become distracted and burdened down, functioned out of His will, and put the Lord on the back burner. Therefore, our fire has burned out. We don't pray the same. We don't serve the same. We don't teach the same. We don't preach the same. And, oh, how I've felt this feeling over the years, especially in my music ministry...when I know I haven't played the same.<br /><br />In Matthew 5, Jesus shows His disciples that being a light in the world is a compliment, but also a great responsibility to carry forth the message. He outlines our responsibility as light bearers so that, ultimately, the Father can get the glory.<br /><br />Maybe, like Samson, you've lost your power...maybe you've lost your fire...maybe you've even lost your favor...but IF you just ask God for His grace and make yourself available back to him, FIRST, you'll get your fire back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To anyone who feels that your fire has burned out, I encourage you today to get back in line, get back in God's Word, get back in your prayer closet and get back in His will.<br /><br /><br />Don't Lose Your Candlestick</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8OrpQvPXFY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8OrpQvPXFY</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWTW1CB6NEmUp-s3WAMeJvwC3dv-mhWWcatQgqs6vS5xgJXwwHmb3rHs6RzSXFa6OyFSzxmgQarw2yhvYO57KNjiskzEwbg8mbJzCbsER-mT2bjmqyn4J9QBUOYecdBBpTRn5g1eoATc/s1600/Gold_Candlestick_PNG_Clip_Art-1571.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWTW1CB6NEmUp-s3WAMeJvwC3dv-mhWWcatQgqs6vS5xgJXwwHmb3rHs6RzSXFa6OyFSzxmgQarw2yhvYO57KNjiskzEwbg8mbJzCbsER-mT2bjmqyn4J9QBUOYecdBBpTRn5g1eoATc/s320/Gold_Candlestick_PNG_Clip_Art-1571.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-86903811375214592452016-11-07T09:08:00.000-05:002016-11-07T09:08:30.822-05:00ACE #437: Still Under Construction<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was in high school, I remember some construction the
state was doing to improve travel on Interstate 75 (I-75). I can’t really
remember when it started. I just remember when I started giving attention to
it. I was riding to the state basketball tournament with some friends from
Lexington to Richmond. Anyway, after that, any time I drove I-75 south I noticed
construction on the road. It seemed to last forever. Years later, the
construction seemed to be complete…at least I thought. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some years after that, changes were being made again. Then, years
later, some more changes. To this day changes are still being made to one of
the main highways running through the state of Kentucky. The road seems to always
be under construction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, let me translate this spiritually. Like the highway, in
Christ, our heart should always be under construction as well. As we go through
this life, we will need ‘The Engineer’ of life, the almighty God, to change our
heart again and again to prepare it for every situation possible. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The heart is a CHRISTian's main component for dealing with
the things of this world. If it is not engineered in Christ, it will not be
able to withstand the evilness, the foolishness, and the disappointments of
this world. Understanding that we are always under construction, as believers
in Christ, will certainly give us hope for dealing with things to come. A heart
that is always under construction is positioned for God to make changes to serve
His purpose for the time. He continually engineers a heart to glorify Him and to
one day soon bring completion to the work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Philippians 1:6</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.</span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cpTNg-AH-Js6Khja9RyH3xb4oL1giwlMTanYm4maYwcOAix6I4lYo99ECj6YJxigX7bs6rwS3380HSW4jfoR6NiA0bDUpzXq2172Bmxr2ZUYhENvCV7ohvuFK6rcEfOLWMgJWb_Gt2A/s1600/Under-construction-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cpTNg-AH-Js6Khja9RyH3xb4oL1giwlMTanYm4maYwcOAix6I4lYo99ECj6YJxigX7bs6rwS3380HSW4jfoR6NiA0bDUpzXq2172Bmxr2ZUYhENvCV7ohvuFK6rcEfOLWMgJWb_Gt2A/s320/Under-construction-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p><br /></o:p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715510927149678838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-11352362302720200212016-11-03T14:41:00.004-04:002016-11-03T14:43:34.028-04:00ACE #436 ASK<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many of us have a habit of petitioning God, but not
faithfully moving so He can bless. Our faith is weakened by our ASK. We are
asking God, but not believing God to do it. Better yet, we ask, but we don’t
finish the process for God to do it. You see, to ask God for something means
you have to be willing to follow through on your request and expect God to move,
but not you. We all know faith is action. When functioning in true faith,
seeing is not believing. Believing is knowing the actions and the word of God. Jesus
said, “…for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the
one who knocks it will be opened.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friends, God, through the sacrifice of His only begotten
Son, Jesus, has supplied every need we will ever have when it is about Him. All
we have to do ask. But, in asking, we have to make sure we are doing our part. Asking
is followed with action…just asking is not enough. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are asking the Lord for better, you have to believe
that you will receive better. Not only do ask for better, you have to seek
better for yourself. I am convinced that some of us are not getting better
because we don’t know where better is coming from. Better is coming in Jesus. Seek
out the things that move you from yourself to realizing that greater is He who
is in you than you who in this miserable world. Then, knock on doors that
encourage your request. Stop trying to open doors in your own strength. Let
Christ and it will be opened unto you. All you have to do is, <b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A</span></b>sk! <b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">S</span></b>eek! <b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">K</span></b>nock!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Matthew 7:7-11<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><sup>7 </sup></i></b><i>“Ask and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. <b><sup>8 </sup></b>For
everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who
knocks, the door will be opened.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><sup>9 </sup></i></b><i>“Which of you, if your son asks for bread,
will give him a stone? <b><sup>10 </sup></b>Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a snake? <b><sup>11 </sup></b>If you, then, though you
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_REia198BjdmTZlj7y57Duy7Pm-jV_paFxxAO6jlzvw1KaPMI7Y2B-zM12CoIhwZyhKZF6FfpJ4Eak8CvH2rnOa0240PE3udKouwGGQOhdpyb8Qqr7HrUVDq0gimMPWZmXGYkh9T7RA/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_REia198BjdmTZlj7y57Duy7Pm-jV_paFxxAO6jlzvw1KaPMI7Y2B-zM12CoIhwZyhKZF6FfpJ4Eak8CvH2rnOa0240PE3udKouwGGQOhdpyb8Qqr7HrUVDq0gimMPWZmXGYkh9T7RA/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span id="goog_1473937624"></span><span id="goog_1473937625"></span><br /></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01715510927149678838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-21000737682978900762016-10-28T11:13:00.001-04:002016-10-28T11:20:27.672-04:00ACE #435: Life Really Is Short...<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This entire month is one that I will never forget, but wish would just be over. I can't get to October 31st fast enough.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two of my cousins died unexpectedly, our daughter's high school track idol died at 15-years-old, and a college classmate died at 37-years-old. Families are grieving over these sudden losses. Even though God knew this was coming, there are those of us who are left to try to understand and find peace in the losses. I have peace in knowing that they were all saved and confessed belief in Jesus Christ.</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It only reminds me that life really is short. Take the time to live life to the fullest, enjoy every moment...and forgive. We never know when it is our last time to get it right. And love people hard while they are still here.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFVft13Psrgs0E6aStRFb-qL5iApQZ7jSgjtUhqbtjlf5kbEiFfvM3mMZ_KJ-225g9fqJMat48qLlWT4odyFjTbvODsJe-bGBDsHEYUnAEvryDwOkOsD9SoJGsoqiwRDLklkow1op3QU/s1600/life-is-shorttime-is-fastno-replayno-rewindso-enjoy-every-moment-as-it-comes-life-quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFVft13Psrgs0E6aStRFb-qL5iApQZ7jSgjtUhqbtjlf5kbEiFfvM3mMZ_KJ-225g9fqJMat48qLlWT4odyFjTbvODsJe-bGBDsHEYUnAEvryDwOkOsD9SoJGsoqiwRDLklkow1op3QU/s320/life-is-shorttime-is-fastno-replayno-rewindso-enjoy-every-moment-as-it-comes-life-quote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; display: inline !important; float: none; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; display: inline !important; float: none; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.</i></span></span><b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-73422120351045219962016-08-17T08:42:00.000-04:002016-08-17T08:42:10.265-04:00ACE #434: Beware of That Darned Delilah<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--></span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Delilah
Extracts His Secret </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Judges
16 </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><sup><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">15 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then
she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with
me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me where your great
strength lies.” <b><sup>16 </sup></b>When she pressured him day after
day with her words and pleaded with him, he was annoyed to death. <b><sup>17 </sup></b>Then
[finally] he told her everything that was in his heart and said to her, “A
razor has never been used on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my
mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I will
become weak and be like any [other] man.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><sup><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">18 </span></sup></i></b><i><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Then
Delilah realized that he had told her everything in his heart, so she sent and
called for the Philistine lords, saying, “Come up this once, because he has
told me everything in his heart.” Then the Philistine lords came up to her and
brought the money [they had promised] in their hands. <b><sup>19 </sup></b>She
made Samson sleep on her knees, and she called a man and had him shave off the
seven braids of his head. Then she began to abuse Samson, and his strength left
him. <b><sup>20 </sup></b>She said, “The Philistines are upon you,
Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as I have time
after time and shake myself free.” For Samson did not know that the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> had departed from him. <b><sup>21 </sup></b>Then
the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down
to Gaza and bound him with [two] bronze chains; and he was forced to be a
grinder [of grain into flour at the mill] in the prison.<b><sup>22 </sup></b>But
the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved off.</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyone who befriends you, learns your personal story/history/dreams, then uses your personal information for gain/advancement for themselves carries a <b>Delilah Spirit</b>. S/he will have no problem sharing your weaknesses and handing you over to your enemies. When you encounter someone like that, your anointing is being jeopardized and/or challenged. And your testimony is certainly being tested. Delilah deliberately waited until Samson was in a submissive, relaxed state to get what she needed. She also knew that his weakness was women...and she was one. Be careful of casual conversation - over coffee, lunch, breaks, exercise, etc. for it is not always as casual as you might perceive. Sometimes it is intentional or calculated. Yep, that's Delilah lurking around. You do not have to be suspicious of everyone, but you do need to me mindful of others' intentions<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Some people are determined to weaken your warrior spirit<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> or </span>to attack your anointing to get you off of track.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; margin: 6px 0px 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Be careful who you align yourself with in your next season. Watch and pray. But learn to keep some things to yourself too. Sometimes silence is golden...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey0EomYj3KD1JcmGJ3GWdDN8vlhwdEPe_kKb7iLp_2v92cl36UXHahqgr_YByTtgpQlHRysGB61n1B37PSLYXqvn0MEyX4i5QwPckJT5ONN6gKjeHKE4MTCZoy0ECgVP6NWS37GM12F0/s1600/samson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiey0EomYj3KD1JcmGJ3GWdDN8vlhwdEPe_kKb7iLp_2v92cl36UXHahqgr_YByTtgpQlHRysGB61n1B37PSLYXqvn0MEyX4i5QwPckJT5ONN6gKjeHKE4MTCZoy0ECgVP6NWS37GM12F0/s1600/samson.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7808648987241051825.post-19275131593092707192016-08-15T08:58:00.001-04:002016-08-15T08:58:53.103-04:00ACE #433: What Do Your Ears Hear?<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">I remember being younger and hearing my friends say mean things to each other, especially in high school and later in college. When the comments were directed toward me, I would often ignore it or just laugh it off because it became so uncomfortable. One of my friends would constantly have something to say about my hair. Another would go out of the way to tease me for being smart. Then every now and then someone would say something sarcastic because I had a car at 16-years-old, all the while in the next breath, they would ask for a ride somewhere. As I got older, some people around me would take verbal jabs about my possessions...material things I had. I would think, <i>I work everyday; so whatever I have...I earned it</i>. But, truthfully, their words began to kill my spirit because they were actually hurtful. It often made me ashamed or embarrassed to have nice things or to share my accomplishments. It also made me think about how <span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>the power of life and death really is in the tongue</b>.<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">But as I matured, I began to realize a few things about the character of people and the power of my inner circle; some people really are your enemies and you don't even know it. I came across an old Facebook post that read:</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Pay attention. People always reveal themselves. We always focus on what our eyes can see, but give less value to what our ears hear.</i></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica","arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; margin: 6px 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>What comes out of the mouth is usually a reflection of a person's heart...their jealousy, their bitterness, their competitive spirit, their insecurities, their brokenness, their covetousness, even their true dislike of you. The wool wasn't pulled over your eyes, it was over your ears.</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.32px; margin: 6px 0px 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i>Listen closer next time...and then you'll see more clearly.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So, now, I pay attention...and make the adjustments...to the things that come out of my own mouth and to the things I allow to enter my ears. If necessary, make some adjustments or at least listen up...it will keep the enemy out of your camp.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k89v4jXsKLZW4HD_TLpioWZYeXUUeFJrxWyeZbHry9AWA-ImsUE3c9Ir_gDXreS-mldc8_eNO4nzYZ6c6CNS5e0Hl7W9lwJ1xX7_gvS42HS1R1rkMxEK8O7sE_x7vFwVyvU6hEJ9cBo/s1600/fingers_in__ears_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k89v4jXsKLZW4HD_TLpioWZYeXUUeFJrxWyeZbHry9AWA-ImsUE3c9Ir_gDXreS-mldc8_eNO4nzYZ6c6CNS5e0Hl7W9lwJ1xX7_gvS42HS1R1rkMxEK8O7sE_x7vFwVyvU6hEJ9cBo/s1600/fingers_in__ears_.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
The 'After Church' Experiencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10290510281355786684noreply@blogger.com0