CHECK OUT WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO!
Newest Post... THINK PINK!
My more recent posts:
Come Away To A Quiet Place...
Weeds and Roots
Today, I choose...
He Calls Me Wildflower
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VISIT MY ONLINE ART GALLERY:
WWW.MICHELLEBENTHAMCREATES.ORG
IN OTHER NEWS: Women of Faith featured an excerpt from my blog about a WOF event I recently attended. Check It OUT!
I recently joined Angie Monroe on her Resolute Catalyst Radio Show talking all about Preserving Your Potential in Pressure Cooker Seasons. LISTEN to the PODCAST on Angie's Podomatic.
I'M GIVING AWAY CREATIONS! Everyday that my blog reaches 100 page views, those who leave comments will be entered to win a 4x6 original artwork on paper of your favorite verse of Scripture. Click here the rules and how to enter.
THURSDAY, MAY 2nd Comments: NONE! Really... We had 112 page views yesterday - first time we've broke 100 since March 29th! Leave your comments and link up to the blog and you are entered to win. NOEL WILLIAMS has been commenting regularly, visit Noel at http://www.prhayz.wordpress.com/ She linked up to our website on Twitter yesterday which I believe helped send traffic my way! So NOEL is our MAY 2nd Winner. NOEL, please email me your favorite Scriptures and colors.
I will post my draft of the Painting for Bridgit by May 11th! :)
4/20/2012 WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY 100 PAGE-VIEW days these last few weeks. Share a link and leave a comment to enter to win! I'll post the next update next week!
FRIDAY APRIL 6th Entries: OUR WINNER IS BRIDGIT ! Bridgit please email me so we can get started on your personalized artwork! KEEP CHECKING BACK, Linking Back and letting others know about this give-a-way!
Date # of Page Views Commentators
3/28 83 Ana Marie
3/29 146 Bridgit
3/30 88 Noel
3/31 76 Julie
4/1 58
4/2 71 Nanette
4/3 63 Noel
4/4 46
4/5 32
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VISIT MY ONLINE ART GALLERY:
WWW.MICHELLEBENTHAMCREATES.ORG
IN OTHER NEWS: Women of Faith featured an excerpt from my blog about a WOF event I recently attended. Check It OUT!
I recently joined Angie Monroe on her Resolute Catalyst Radio Show talking all about Preserving Your Potential in Pressure Cooker Seasons. LISTEN to the PODCAST on Angie's Podomatic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzoUU8qlkwc
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Encouragement and Prayer from the pages of God's Word as He has written them on my heart! Scripture & Prayer Blog
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If you are looking for my Bible study on the Hebrew Names of God click HERE.
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BETH MOORE IS COMING TO GATEWAY CHURCH for PINK IMPACT IN APRIL! Don't miss this great time to come together as women of God and hear the anointed teaching of Beth, Holly Wagner, Author Andy Andrews, Ps. Debbie Morris, and many more | April 26-27, 2012. Our Southlake Campus is SOLD. OUT. Frisco will have a live Satelite Feed and North Richland Hills is expected to sell out by the first of March or so! JUST JUMP IN!
Visit Beth at the LPM Blog and learn more what she's up to and her Living Proof Ministries!!
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Shop at my bookstore: MICHELLE's BOOK NOOK
Life is happening here...
It's taken me a while to get my bearings again, but I'm writing. And, I'm in love. With My Family. With My God. With the place I am in my life. With my HUSBAND. I'm in love and I love it... (See Gateway Church Christmas Carol)!
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Deep Breath Ministries...
Do you Rendezvous? Join Me Here.
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Sunday, February 28, 2010
Established by Grace
May I ask a question?
What does it mean for our hearts to be established by grace?
Last night, Scott and I went to the home of a friend of ours from Gateway. John Sheasby was speaking about the establishment of grace in our lives. The message blessed me tremendously.
Please click over to Liberated Living Ministries and listen to John's inspired message. Then if you would, come back here and leave comment with your thoughts on this teaching.
I'll share my thoughts at the end of the week after I have ruminated on this message for a few days.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tater Tot... My beautiful Baby Girl... :)
Sticking the Landing
Thank you, Claudia. I pray you also are blessed.
Blessings,
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Prophetic Paintings
This painting with the shield and sword represents Scott's Presbytery when he was called out as a rescuer of those in bondage, a Warrior in the line of David who has a shepherd's heart. He also has a prophetic gift, God said specifically that He is a SEER. It was such a blessing to hear the strength and the destiny that the presbyters called out over my husband.
The gold painting is the beautiful Psalm 133 that speaks of the anointing for Unity that commands a Throne Room blessing that was called out over us in Presbytery. It speaks of us just dripping in an anointing of UNITY. AMEN.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday's IOW: Masks Off!
Hiding out... It has been my specialty all my life. Hiding behind what people say about me, think about me...
I'm one of those people who would pass you in the hallway at work, at the altar at church and even in Aisle #9 of the local Wal-Mart and lie through my teeth that I am fine when in truth I'm coming apart at the seamed edges of my tattered, war-weary soul.
I now work in a safe environment. A place where someone who has been praying for me walks by and says, "Hey, do you have a few minutes just to check in?"
When we get into an office with a closed door the question is, "How are you really?"
My answers range from.... "I feel like my head is about to explode....." to "Fine..." to "It was a rough night at home because ______________________ happened." You fill in the blank.
Life has a way of hitting us where we live. Doesn't it?
At this moment, I see a huge ballroom full of elegantly dressed people wearing ethereal looking masks. They dance as the glowing lights bounce off the iridescent porcelain of their masks. Pasted smiles dawn the mask as eerie music clouds the backdrop. The dancers move in tandem to one another - first pulling others to them, then hastily pushing them away as if they get too close.
At the far end of the room, a young woman with a maid's costume enters. Her mask is strikingly absent. The beauty of her face shines like the dawn. She has a fresh track of tears streaming down her cheeks as she walks through the room of fake and playful dancers.
All she seeks is to be seen, to be heard.... To be valued and admired for who she is... Who He says she is. But the dancers are so busy hiding their own sorrow, their own shortcomings, their own pain - they don't even notice the radiant one in their midst.
She has a mark of beauty on her that no one takes the time to see. She has the mark of love on her that no one has taken the time to explore. She has the mark of time on her that no one seems to care is expiring. She has the lost and empty eyes of a soul in search of freedom but no one leads the way.
This is a scene that could be the truth about any one of our churches, social circles or PTA meetings at any given time this week. So many people pretending to be something they are not, hiding behind great jobs, beautiful houses and the finest things that credit can buy - yes, even the piety of the church they attend. All the while they are missing the opportunities to share truth, hope and love in the deepest ways.
This weekend my husband and I unearthed some deep and destructive roots in our marriage that set off some soul shattering tremors in our home. It was painful, messy and hard. I was wrecked like a small boat tossed against rocks on the shoreline. It left me not only emotionally exhausted, but also physically ill. I missed work yesterday due to the malady I was nursing.
When I returned today, I had a list of things to get accomplished and a volunteer at the front door waiting to help. She is a precious woman who is completely enthralled with her God while walking out the nooks and crannies of a journey of grief missing the husband who has gone ahead of her to heaven. Our conversation was inspiring as we reflected the deepening of our relationships with God through grief. How our children fared through their grief and the irony of blessing in the midst of devastating losses.
Near the end of the day my overseer, Alan, stopped by my desk and asked if I had a few minutes to "catch up" and "visit." I walked into his office and he asked the catch up question, "How are you doing?"
I confessed I didn't know if my illness was truly the result of catching a "bug" or more related to the marital earthquake I had experienced the day before. He spent that time listening to my heart and asked relative questions. Then we came to the place where I finished talking and he said, "What do you need?"
I sat there uncomfortably aware that I had no idea what I needed. He let me mingle in my silence and thoughts until I finally said, "I think I just need to feel safe."
He asked God to talk to me about what it means to be safe, and then we listened. I clearly heard my Father say, "Safety doesn't depend on your circumstances because you are always safe with Me." Indeed.
Alan then asked God to show me about a safe place. Immediately, I was in a light, airy dress frolicking through a harvest field to the front porch of an old farmhouse. There my Savior greeted me and we played jacks and danced on the worn floorboards in the warm afternoon sun.
I was safe. Alan then asked the Lord to speak to me about my marriage. I felt Him take my hand and gently whisper, "It has been restored. Just stay with it."
My heart was swelling in His peace. Alan then prayed a sweet, affirming prayer about Scott and I over me as the Lord caressed my wounded heart with His healing waves of love.
Let's go back to the ballroom now, that same handmaiden that was walking lost through the room is stopped by a Prince clad in gold and white. He smiles at her and extends his hand to her. The love in His eyes overwhelms her. He leads her out the doorway of the ballroom into a large, abundant field filled with a harvest crop of wheat bowing beneath the weight of the Spirits wind upon it. The harvest is ripe. He leads her across the field as her servant's garment fades into a beautiful, white linen gown. He whisks her up the steps onto the front porch of an old farmhouse where her bare toes part the floorboards as He masterfully leads her in an elegant waltz. Her heart is finally at rest in her Savior's arms.
All because someone stopped by, checked in and listened to her heart.
Yes, we could do it so much better. Shall we start today?
Jesus commended us to meet the needs of others by pursuing first His Kingdom and Righteousness. I'm thankful He put me in a safe place.
Loni is hosting Tuesday's In Other Words, a writing meme based on inspirational quotes. Stop by, check it out and leave her note along the way.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Read all about it...
A new small group experience from Marriage Today and Gateway Church Unity Ministry called "Return to Intimacy."
Read more about our journey at http://www.benthamsdream.blogspot.com
Just the facts...
In the last week people from these cities/ states have visited my blog:
Barrington, Illinois
Athens, Georgia
Beaverton, Oregon
Springfield, Missouri
Dallas, Texas
Mentor, Ohio
Salt Lake City, Utah
St. Clair, Pennsylvannia
Canton, Georgia
Buffalo, New York
Great Falls, Montana
Chicago, Illinois
Haltom City, Texas
Ford City, Pennsylvania
Orange Park, Florida
St. Paul, Minnesota
Lake Elsinore, California
Fenton, Michigan
Harker Heights, TX
South Haven, Minnesota
Plano, Texas
Fort Meyers, Florida
New York State
The following search topic has most directed people to Because I Love You :
God as our husband, Name of God Ish (6)
Other Topical searches included:
They arrived through Google, Blogger, Facebook, and the BlogHer Publishing Network links from other blogs and by direct feed.
So here is what I’m asking you to do… If you arrive on this blog by some sort of search engine or link would you kindly leave a comment on this post telling us a few things:
Age
Just fun, and interesting Trivia to let me know you've stopped by!
What are your Strengths?
I took it in July before going to work at Gateway and am on a journey of discovery!
My TOP FIVE IN ORDER ARE:
1. Strategic
2. Arranger
3. Connectedness
4. Belief
5. Maximizer
Think those over... and add your own in a comment. To find out more about Strengthfinders and Strengths Based Leadership visit http://strengths.gallup.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
She is hosting a book club/Bible study over at her blog beginning today! If you don't have a copy, get the book. Visit the LPM Blog and sign up to read along with thousands of other women who are kissing insecurity GOODBYE!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What if you're not who you think you are....
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Winter Wonderland 2010
But, with the snow come perils. The news this morning reported thousands of people enduring without power, and fires burning where firemen were struggling in the snow to fight the flames. One report showed a woman slowing working her truck backing out of her drive. She was headed
Add to that the inexperienced driving or at least attempting to drive in snow, slush and ice. It creates a nasty mess where cars are damaged, people are injured and life comes to a creeping pace. Still... Does that discount the beautiful moments and memories that can be born in such snow storm?
Daddy calls it snuggling weather.
Throw on the extra blankets, a fire in the fireplace and candlelight in the darkness with one you love could make for a very romantic evening.
Not to mention board games with the family, snowmen in the yard and watching our 2 1/2 ft. tall dog run around in the twelve inches of snow in the backyard. Just take a moment to consider how beautiful it is.
Yes, it may throw a kink in my plans. At times it may force me to slow down and take life at an observant pace... But, in truth - the snow this week is a gift.