Day Spa For Women

A SPECTACULAR MINISTRY

2008-04-02T06:53:00.004-06:00

I was at an event over the weekend. I was working at our trophy store booth. Across from me was a booth that was very creative and attractive and was getting alot of attention. I was thinking about the ministry the Lord has called Missy and I to - the Day Spa for Women. I was racking my brain trying to think of a catchy title, a slogan, a marketing idea.

Then a lady stopped at my booth - she said, "I've been wanting to call you and ask you for Missy's email address. I wanted to tell her how much her testimony touched me." Now this lady had come to a Day Spa that we held in early February, 2007. That was 14 months ago. And this lady still remembers the word the Lord gave her through Missy's message. That is amazing to me!

And I remember what the apostle Paul said in 2-Corinthians 2:14..... '' God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. For we are all like a sweet smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost. For those who are being lost (it smells bad), but for those who are being saved it is a wonderful fragrance! Who, then, is 'capable' for such a task????!!!!! We are not like so many others, who handle God's message as if it were 'cheap merchandise'."

I think about what a spectacular ministry we all can have, if we just let Jesus keep changing us. Because then there is a 'fragrance' that comes off of us...... not a cheap dime store perfume, but some of that stuff that costs $100's of dollars, you know, that kind where the smell just lingers..... Well, that's what Jesus does in us. And just like this lady, 14 months later, is still remembering that fragrance, so too we can have that kind of impact on others. And not only the 'fragrance' of Christ, but the 'reflection' of Him, too! We just don't have a clue what kind of impact we can have on people that don't 'know' Jesus, if we would just let Him work in US! What a spectacular ministry!

So I decided to quit trying to "market" the ministry the Lord has given us, as if it were some cheap merchandise, and instead let him continue to change me.

...............Waiting..........

2007-12-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

CHORUS: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for His Word to come true

In each and everything.

Throughout the ages He has proven

Himself to be faithful and true

Everything He says, He will do,

Yes, He's faithful to me and you.

That's why I'm: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for His Word to come true

In each and everything.

I'm waiting for Him to return

in Glorious Majesty

and all creation will proclaim

His Sovereignty!

Has He made a promise to you?

and you're wondering if it all is true?

Don't give up hope, just wait on Him,

He'll do what He promised to!

Just wait, you'll see it's true!

That's why I'm: Waiting, waiting, waiting for my King

Waiting for Him to return

and take me back with Him,

yes, He'll take you and me back with Him!

written 12/29/07

CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY; WAITING FOR A RETURN

2007-12-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

I've been awake since 3:00 a.m. this morning. My heart is troubled.

I have a loved one that is 'bound up' with those chains of dissatisfaction that Satan so craftily ensnares so many with. It makes me angry, that now - at this time of the year - when we should be free to do nothing but think on the birth of our Savior, to celebrate that wonderful day, to think about what it must have been like: angels in the sky, shepherds in awe, a young mom holding a tiny little baby, a baby SHE knew was a very special baby...... Instead I see so many (including my loved one) becoming more and more depressed, convinced that life 'sucks', blinded by discontentment because of a 'perception' of lack of that #1 IDOL in our world today, yes MONEY. Money, things, 'toys', spending. I hate it! I hate seeing all those tv commercials that imply that everyone is having so much fun, spending a bunch of money, buying this, buying that..... a surpise car here, a beautiful diamond there. And all it does is (1) make a person feel guilty because they, once again, have 'fallen short' of society's expectation, or (2) they buy into the lie and charge up credit cards, buying things they can't afford.

Over 2,000 years ago the Jewish people were longing for their Messiah to come and 'rescue them'.

Today, in 2007, on Christmas eve, Jesus, I long for You to come back. We know You ARE coming back. We just don't know when. But I am waiting, Lord. Waiting.

AN ANGEL

2007-12-23T20:30:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, she's everything and more. She looks just like her pictures! She's so beautiful, she looks like a china doll. She's got short stubby feet (like me) but long toes and fingers (unlike me). She's an excellent burper. She's a good cuddler, like Missy said. I can't wait to hold her in my arms.

Part of my testimony is that the Lord gives me 'songs'. They just come into my head and I write them down. It's strange because I don't play the guitar that good, and I don't sing that good. But the Lord gives them to me.

He gave me a song for Angel this morning, and I sang it to her this afternoon. I think she liked it. (She fell asleep.) Here it is:

An Angel came to us this Christmas
What a blessed surprise!
After years of waiting, praying, crying
Here she is! Right before our eyes!

CHORUS: Angel, do you know how much we love you?
and that God has chosen this time, this place,
this family for you?
And we praise Him Our God above
Who sent us such a bundle of love.

So every year at Christmas
when we're singing about angels on high
We remember how God sent us an Angel
who brings us so much joy!

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS

2007-12-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

"I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11

We're going to Sioux Falls today to meet Angel. I don't get to hold her yet because only the parents and siblings can feed and hold her the first couple of weeks. This is so she bonds good and tight with them. I understand. I know I'll get the hold her soon enough.....

I was thinking about God's faithfulness.... that's the reason for the title of this post. God is so awesome in His sovereignty. I recently left a job that I was convinced I was going to be at until I retired. 7 years ago I felt God 'call' me to leave my career as a USDA Farm Loan Officer/paralegal and become a houseparent for a houseful of Native American teenage girls. Al and I had been doing that since 2001 - we would have anywhere from 8 to 10 girls in our home.... we were their 'parents' did everything that parents do. I got to share Jesus' love with them. But then last summer I started losing my sense of the Lord's peace, and I could tell things would be changing. It's a very long story, and I don't have room to tell it all here, but the Lord used Al, opened up a job opportunity for me through him (I didn't even have to fill out an application!), and I am now working as an Optomotrist Assistant. Sounds wierd, doesn't it? Doesn't sound like a ministry opportunity. But I meet and greet dozens of people every day, and sometimes just a smile, a caring touch, an understanding ear is such a ministry opportunity in today's world! But the best part of it, is I have more time off now, to be able to be with my new grandaughter!

God knew that. He knew that 2007 would be ending with a new baby in our family. He knows all the details. He knows exactly where He wants us at each specific time in our life. He is so faithful. I love having someone like that whom I can trust my life with.

A SAVIOR IS BORN. A BABY IS BORN. AN ANGEL JOINS THE FAMILY.

2007-12-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a Grama! I have to say that again...... I AM A GRAMA.

Angel Marie became Missy and Pat's daughter on December 21, 2007. Read all about it at: http://www.quittemlife.blogspot.com/

What a great Christmas present!

Angels are singing on high about the birth of Jesus! And I'm singing about the birth of our Angel! Thank you Jesus, most of all for your Birth and what that meant for mankind, and second for this precious blessing and what she means for our family.

HERE SHE IS:

Angel Marie

15 PLUS JESUS!

2007-11-18T13:00:00.000-07:00

As usual, the Lord showed up! It was a truly blessed day. There were 15 of us and we were so blessed. We had the Day Spa in the Youth Room of Abiding Savior - and that room is so 'warm'. You could really sense the Spirit there.

The highlight of my day was when I was beginning to massage a lady's hands - she grabbed MY hands, and started praying over me. The Spirit was leading her to pray very personal encouragments into my life. It was SO AWESOME!

Thank you Jesus, oh how we need to hear from You in our crazy, busy lives! We know it's not YOU that's not talking, but US that's not 'listening'. Help us, Jesus, help us to slow down and quiet down.

Sioux Falls Day Spa

2007-11-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

We'll be hosting a Day Spa in Sioux Falls SD soon! On November 17th we'll be at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church.

Today we sold just 3 tickets and I was pretty discouraged. However, I just prayed that God would stir the hearts of the women that needed to be there.

I don't understand what it's like to be a mom to little ones. But I do understand our crazy world and how we have so much going on. I also understand that God desires for us to come before Him, to give Him our life and the Day Spa for Women helps women to feel renewed and refreshed and have some quiet time that's so needed.

Pray for us as we prepare for the Day Spa and pray for the women that should be there.

HEALING RAIN

2007-10-15T17:36:00.000-06:00

We've received about 3 inches of rain here in the last 2 days.

If you've heard my testimony, you know that the Lord gives me 'songs'. One of the first songs I received was one day when I was listening to the Michael W. Smith instrumental CD 'Freedom'. The words just came into my head..... it was a song of God's love, and how His love was meant for me. It was a song that told of a sovereign God who loves each one of us so very personally.

With all the rain we've received the last couple of days, I've been thinking of another of Michael W. Smith's songs: 'Healing Rain'. Some of the lyrics go:
Healing rain is coming down, It's coming nearer to this old town. Rich and poor, weak and strong, It's bringing mercy, it won't be long! Healing rain is coming down, It's coming closer to the lost and found. Tears of joy, and tears of shame, are washed forever in Jesus' name.

I pray for more and more of Our Savior's healing rain. I saw some of it on Saturday, with the tears that were shed. I know the Lord wants to nurture us, water us, cleanse us with His healing rain.

Let the rain come, Lord!

2007-10-14T11:29:00.000-06:00

A BLESSED DAY

On Saturday Missy and I facilitated a Day Spa at Linwood Wesleyan Church in Sioux Falls. It humbles me beyond words when I get to see the Lord still walking among us today, in 2007. He wants to talk to us, guide us, convict us, comfort us and much more, if we would just stop long enough to listen. Satan's greatest victory in our world today is the lifestyle we have boughten into - that we have to always be 'doing something'. Have we forgotten what Jesus said to Martha?: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."Luke 10:41-24

On Saturday, 20 ladies chose to be 'Marys' for the day. They chose to forget about the distractions of their worlds and come and sit at Jesus' feet for the day. As the day progressed, we heard story after story of how one received validation in one area, confirmation in another, comfort in another. The Lord seemed to speak to different ladies in different ways: One would be especially moved at a particular prayer station, another would 'hear' from the Lord through the foot/hand massage, others through the Word spoken in a message and/or the music.

Thank you, Jesus! We love You!

2007-10-10T12:56:00.000-06:00

OBEDIENCE

The heading above is in the font 'Webdings'. I need to find out why people use this font. If you would change it to something like, 'Arial', you would see that the heading says OBEDIENCE.

Missy and I are facilitating a Day Spa on Saturday at Linwood Wesleyan church in Sioux Falls. As I mentioned below, at the Day Spa's we Worship, Pray, Eat and we have Testimony. Well, I have a 30 minute segment where I'm supposed to give a message. I keep getting great ideas for a great message, but then it's as if the Lord is saying 'no'. It's as if He's saying, "I don't need you to 'preach some good sounding idea' to them Sue, I need you to just be 'real'. I'll tell you what to say. You just have to 'show up'.

I have a feeling the Lord is going to want me to share something that maybe I really don't want anyone to know about me. It seems like He does that alot. But everytime I'm obedient to Him, it ends up not 'shaming' me or embarrasing me, but instead honors me. Because EVERY TIME there has always been a person the Lord has spoken to through that story, and the person is blessed, and the Lord is glorified.

Lord, please help me to obey........

2007-10-09T05:31:00.000-06:00

"Great is his faithfulness;his mercies begin afresh each morning." Lamentations 3:23

2007-10-08T20:53:00.000-06:00

INTRODUCTIONS

Hi, my name is Sue. I'm Missy's Mom. Missy is the one who set up this site. The site is beautiful, thanks Missy!
And thank YOU for checking us out! The 'Day Spa for Women' has been a work in progress..... it started over a year ago, when Missy told me about an idea she had. Her step-daughter had put on a 'tea party' for her Youth Group girlfriends. Missy thought it would be a good idea to have a 'pampering', 'spa-type' event for a Women's retreat. She felt the Lord calling her to minister to busy, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated women of this new milleneum. At the time, the Lord had been putting prayer on my heart, and I had organized several 'prayer days' at my Church. The Lord was slowly forming an idea, and I would put together what I call 'prayer stations'. Basically prayer stations are tables with objects that prompt you to 'dig deep' and that correlate with God's word in the Bible. It's hard to explain - you really have to experience it! Anyway, what has come together is a day that is amazing! We begin with Worship. Then there is testimony. Revelation 12:11 says we overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! God always seems to prompt us to share personal experiences that always end up being relevant to those attending. God is so cool how He does that! Missy is very talented in drama, and she usually does a short skit or drama. It's very powerful.
The most powerful part of the day, in my opinion, is the prayer stations and the Foot Washing and foot/hand massage. There are 3 of us that wash feet, and then massage feet and hands. Of course we use sweet-smelling soaps and lotions. But it is the 'aroma of Christ' that lingers, as the Holy Spirit leads us in prayer. It is truly so powerful, so healing, so nurturing.
We take a lunch break, and are treated to a special lunch. Then after lunch, we have more worship, more testimony and another 90 minutes of prayer stations and foot/hand massage.
Missy and I feel truly blessed that the Lord is allowing us to be His servants in this area. My daughter (and Missy's sister) Danelle, hopes to join us in one of the upcoming Spa's.
I hope to get to meet you at one of our upcoming Day Spa's! God bless you.

I appreciate you!

2007-10-08T20:26:00.000-06:00

What are some ways that you know you are appreciated? Maybe you are appreciated by your spouse, your boss, your mom or dad or a good friend. How do we show others that we appreciate them? We often look to the bad and are quick to criticize but God has called us to encourage and build one another up. How are you doing that today?