Here you glo! It’s your latest issue of You Glo Girl! – your monthly dose of encouragement to glorify God. This issue (and come to think of it, every issue) arrives with our prayers for you all over it! How we thank God for your support for Priority Ministries, your commitment to give Him priority, and for your passionate desire to glo, girl! May each and every article bless and minister to you. Thanks for subscribing!!

A Picture is Worth...
by Laurie Cole, Founder & President

It’s “speaking season” for me right now. It started in January, picked up speed in February, and shifted into high gear in March and April. It’s a season of traveling lots of miles, meeting lots of new friends, and teaching lots of retreats and conferences. I love speaking season. But I gotta be honest with you. This 50-year-old speaker is a little tired of talking. That’s why I’ve decided to let a few pictures do most of the “talking” for me this month. Allow me to elaborate.

Worn out and weary from speaking season, I pronounced an official Robe Day recently – a day when I purposefully stayed in my robe all day long. I usually celebrate Robe Day by enjoying a little more coffee, a lot more time with the Lord, and a lot less work than usual. Robe Day is glorious! In fact, Robe Day often turns into Revival Day.

On my most recent Robe Day, I did a little project requiring very little effort (a prerequisite for any task performed on Robe Day). I updated my computer screensaver by creating a slideshow of my favorite family pictures. The very first time I watched it, fresh wind wafted through my weary sails stirring me to smile with joy, sigh with satisfaction, and say, “Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord,” over and over again.

So, I’m wondering. What kind of season are you going through? Are you tired and exhausted? Discouraged or a little down? Need some fresh wind for your sails? Perhaps you need to proclaim an official Robe Day to rest and retreat with God. To spend some extended time in prayer . . . and, perhaps, to shuffle through photos of your family and friends. Whether you create a screensaver slideshow or update your ‘fridge with a few of your favorite pictures, I guarantee God will use it to lift your spirits and inspire you to thanksgiving every time you see it. It’s sure worked for me.

Since a picture really is worth a thousand words, I’m concluding this column with a few pictures from my screensaver. I’m praying they will “talk to you.” And just in case you’re not quite sure, what these pictures are trying to tell you is to get your own collection started. It’ll do you good . . . no matter what season you’re in.

My son, David, and his two children, Juliette & Ezra. Thank you, Lord, for a son who loves his children!	J.J. & Kevin. Thank you, Lord, for sons who love one another!
My husband, Bill, taking Ezra (all wrapped up on a blanket) to go outside and see the moon on a chilly night. Thank you, Lord, for a precious grandson and for a husband who is a such a good granddaddy!	Me and my newborn granddaughter, Juliette. Thank you, Lord, for a glorious granddaughter!
(l-r) Me, David, Ezra, my grandmother (Alice Leslie) and my mother (Julia McKay). Thank you, Lord, for 5 generations who love You and love one another!	Me and my daddy (John McKay). Thank you, Lord, for a daddy whose love for You and love for his family inspires me!

Email Laurie

Priority Passage of the Month

Wherever you live and whatever the weather’s like, here’s a great April verse for you:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord gives grace and glory;
no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11 NASB

Sunny and warm or overcast and chilly, glorify the God who is your sun 365 days a year!

2 New Reasons to Glo!

Announcing two new pink, pretty reasons to glo: Juliette Ann Cole and Avery Lee Hays! Juliette’s mom is Stephanie (Priority’s Administrative & Prayer Director), and Avery’s mom is Courtney (Priority’s Online Store Sales Distributor).

Stephanie & Juliette Cole

Courtney & Avery Hays

l-r: Stephanie, Ezra, Juliette, & David Cole

Lance, Jackson, Courtney, and Avery Hays

Priority’s two glo-ing grandmothers, Laurie (Stephanie’s mother-in-law) and Janet (Courtney’s mom), are tickled pink about their granddaughters! God is soooo good!!

Partner with Priority Partner
by Debbie Todd, Director of Support & Stewardship

Special Limited Time Offer!!*

Let your mom know just how special she is on Mother's Day! Or, purchase one for yourself to display or to enjoy when you entertain! For a limited time only, we are offering the Scriptureware 9 1/2 inch cake pedestal for your donation of $150.

Scriptureware Cake Pedestal:
Yours for a donation of $150.
9 1/2 inch square; cream-colored porcelain; black script lettering.
"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed are those who trust in Him!
They shall not lack any good thing!"
Psalm 34:8;34 10b

OR

For your donation of $200, receive the cake pedestal AND a hatbox containing 4 dessert plates!

Scriptureware Cake Pedestal & 4 Dessert Plates:
Yours for a donation of $200.
Each 6" plate is decorated a different verse from the
Faith, Wisdom, Salvation & Family and Children Scriptureware collection)
Pedestal & plates are cream-colored porcelain with black script lettering.

When you make your donation to Priority between now and April 30, 2008 , for $150 or $200, you will become a Priority Partner and receive this gift as our thanks.

Click here to donate now!

Shipping Note: The cake pedestal will be shipped directly to you from our vendor and should arrive within 5-7 days. If you would like your shipment sent to a different address, please email Debbie with the complete name and mailing address of the recipient, and she will make sure your gift is shipped to the address you specify.

*This a special promotional fund-raiser. Our One-Year Bible®
and custom journal Partner gifts will be excluded with this offer.

Priority Ministries is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. All gifts received are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution. In compliance with Federal law, Priority Ministries is required to deduct the retail value of the item you receive from your donation amount. Your statement will reflect these details.

Thank you for you for helping us encourage and equip women to give Him priority! We are so grateful!

Email Debbie

Coming Next Month!

Coming in May!
Beauty by The Book
Becoming a Biblically Beautiful Woman
A new 7-week study by Laurie Cole

As a subscriber to You Glo Girl!, you’ll receive the very first invitation to preview the workbook, leader guide, and video samples of Beauty by The Book. Watch for your invitation to arrive in early May!

Click here to view pics from the Beauty by The Book videotaping.

Priority Prayer Points

Two of our Priority staff members are at the top of our Priority Prayer Point prayer request list this month. Thanks for remembering to pray for them. We are indebted to you for your ongoing intercession.

Janet Valentine has recently been diagnosed with myelofibrosis, a rare blood disorder. Ask God to give Janet’s doctors wisdom and insight as they continue to perform tests and determine treatment options. Pray that “peace surpassing all comprehension” (Phil. 4:6) will guard Janet and her family’s hearts and minds, as well as for Divine healing and restoration.
Debbie Todd recently severed her Achilles tendon. She’s in a cast (very uncomfortable especially at night when she’s trying to sleep) and will be unable to walk for many weeks. Please pray for rest, recovery, and for daily grace and healing as she experiences this unexpected “season of sitting” . . . and waiting.
Please pray for the final production and printing process of our new study, Beauty by The Book. Many, many details and people are involved. Ask God for His continued blessing upon this project.
Laurie and Janet are on the road every weekend in April. Ask God to supernaturally strengthen and empower them and to use them to reach and teach women for His glory.

Surfin' with Shanda
by Shanda Stiles, IT Director

Submit your favorite website
and you could win free Priority resources!

This month I’m featuring a brand new webpage from a website that is especially near and dear to my heart.

Our staff at Priority Ministries is so excited about Laurie’s new study, Beauty by The Book, and we’d love for you to see our brand new “scrapbook” page with pictures from the February videotaping weekend.

You can also surf our site and find out about Laurie’s other Bible studies, catch up on past issues of our You Glo Girl! newsletter, see Laurie’s speaking schedule this year, and shop for Priority resources. And know this: we’re always open to good ideas and suggestions on how we can make our website better, so please feel free send us your input, ideas, and comments. Thanks!

Glo girls, I’m counting on you to give me some creative, practical, and fun websites to feature in my column over the next few months. Send me some of the sites you’ve bookmarked as your faves, or feel free to send me links to good sites you discover when you’re surfin’. I keep ALL of the ideas you send, so even if you don’t win next month, you might win in the future. If I use your favorite next month, you’ll win a FREE copy of Laurie’s We Have a Latte in Common 3-CD set. Happy surfin’!

*Sorry, but sites that are personal in nature or that promote you or your business cannot be featured in this column.

Email Shanda your faves.

Priority Products
by Pam Henderson, Production & Resources Director

We’re beginning to see the tender new growth of spring everywhere as temperatures warm in our area of the country. It reminds me of the fresh start found in the hope-filled story of Ruth. In Laurie’s CD series The God of New Beginnings, you will discover how to rise above the gloominess of your past failures and the challenges of your current circumstances.

The God of New Beginnings includes four CD messages that will encourage you to grow in faith even through life’s most difficult days. It’s available for $20 in our online store or toll-free at 1-866-YouGloGirl (1-866-968-4564).

Find out more!

Free Bonus Gift: Receive a free You Glo Girl! tote bag with every purchase of $50 or more.

Your purchases support the mission of Priority Ministries. May you experience a spiritual growth spurt as the Lord sows seeds of faith in your study time with Him this month!

Visit Priority's online store

Journey with Janet & Laurie
by Janet Valentine, Executive Director

When you think of North – what are some words that seem to apply? Far, cold, snowy, and different. And when you live in Houston (like I do), almost everything is North! Last month, Laurie and I got to go to two new places – both of which are really north. If you’d like to see what North (far, cold, snowy, and different) looked like to us, keep reading.

Milwaukee , Wisconsin . Neither of us had been that far or to that part of the country in our ministry opportunities. We were loaded down with heavy winter coats and lots of layers bracing ourselves for the cold. We arrived and were greeted by our escort, sweet Shelley Wolff. She drove us to a beautiful area called Green Lake . Flurries were coming down to meet the already snow-covered countryside, and the land was dotted with beautiful barns and silos. To our great surprise, Green Lake was completely frozen, and men were ice-fishing in shacks out on the lake – car, trucks and all! Now that was different and way cold.

At the Green Lake Conference Center , we met our new friends from Oshkosh Community Church. We learned to understand their northern accents, and they patiently learned how to understand our Texas accents. It was fun! Laurie taught powerfully about how to glorify God and how to get past the trap of glorifying ourselves. Please meet our some of our new glo girlfriends. The leadership team from this retreat was well-prepared and eager to help in any way possible. You gals blessed us so much! Welcome to all of our new You Glo Girl! subscribers from Wisconsin !!

The fantastic leadership team from OshKosh Community Church : (l-r) Shelley Wolf (our sweet driver), Dawn Helm (retreat coordinator), Diane Reamer (Women’s Ministry Director), Peggy Furman (hilarious emcee!), and Pam Frank (retreat coordinator).

Two weeks later Laurie and I loaded up our winter clothes again and headed to Des Moines , Iowa . It wasn’t quite as cold and there wasn’t as much snow either. These women were hosting their 8^th annual Women4Him Conference. Ladies from 9 different states – 235 of them – joined together to glorify God and learn how to Balance Life God’s Way. Laurie did an amazing teaching series which will become a new resource for Priority.

Please meet the Women4Him Event Coordinator, Pam Lumbard, pictured here with Laurie and me.

We all felt knit together as we met to pray and worship throughout the weekend.

We had great praise and worship led by a 4-member, all-girl band!

We want to welcome 3 new Priority Partners and 67 new You Glo Girl! subscribers from this wonderful event!!

Far, cold, snowy, and different – ALL GOOD!!! How we thank God for you gals up North and for the friendship and fellowship we enjoyed with you. Please know of our love and continued prayers for you. Can’t wait for another trip North!

Email Janet

Going & Glo-ing

As you scan the following schedule where Laurie and Janet are going and glo-ing this month, say a quick prayer for them and for all of the women who will be attending these events. Bless you!

April 11-12	Spring Conference Central Baptist Church, Bryan/College Station, TX Contact: Cindy Byers
April 18-19	Festival of Hope West Conroe Baptist Church, Conroe, TX
April 25-26	Women's Retreat Cornerstone Community Church, Simi Valley, CA Contact: Sandy Schmid

Glo-ing in the Kitchen
by Jan Hart, Administrative Support

It’s officially Spring – glory!!

Excitement is in the air as we look forward to the many and varied activities that occur this time of year – showers, weddings, graduation parties and those wonderful get-togethers with special friends and family. In other words, it’s time to come out of hibernation!

If you’re like me, you’re always clipping and saving special recipes for one of these events. Special events just spur me on to try new taste treats! So, with that said, I am sharing one of my newest recipes with you this month. I think it would be a wonderful dessert for a luncheon with friends. Besides, the beautiful yellow color goes along with the gorgeous daffodils we experience during springtime.

Lemon Velvet Tart

½ (15 oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
2 (4-oz) white chocolate bars, chopped
1 (8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 jar (10-12 oz. size) lemon curd (equal to 1-1/3 cups)
Lemon curls
Fresh raspberries

Fit piecrust into a lightly greased 9 ½ -inch tart pan; press into fluted edges. Fold any excess dough over outside of pan, and pinch to secure to pan. (This will keep piecrust from sliding down pan as it bakes.) Generously prick bottom and sides of piecrust with a fork, and freeze 20 minutes.

Preheat over to 425 degrees. Place piecrust on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes or until completely cool. Gently tap excess crust from sides of pan, using a rolling pin.

Microwave white chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1-½ minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-minute intervals.

Beat softened cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate, and beat until blended, stopping to scrape down sides. Add lemon curd and beat until blended. Spoon into prepared crust and smooth filling with a spatula. Chill 4 hours.

Garnish with lemon curls and fresh raspberries or serve with your favorite raspberry sauce.

Yield: 8 servings

NOTE: If you prefer the flavor of lime (or green goes better with your table scape), substitute lime curd in place of the lemon curd.

Email Jan

Gotta Glo

Before we close this April issue, would you take a minute to do something? Take a look outside. The trees are beginning to dress up for us with fresh, green foliage. Evidence of God’s glory and handiwork is everywhere – especially this time of the year.

Take your cue from nature this month. May every sign of spring bring praise from your heart to God who has placed and planted His glory all around you. That’s right, you glo, girl!

Loving Him most, seeking Him first,

Laurie Cole, Janet Valentine, Pam Henderson, Courtney Hays,
Debbie Todd, Stephanie Cole, Jan Hart, and Shanda Stiles
Priority Ministries Staff

“Love the Lord your God with all of your heart…soul…(and) mind.” Matt. 22:37
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” Matt. 6:33

Contact us at
www.priorityministries.org

Priority Ministries
P. O. Box 590663
Houston, TX 77259-0663

Priority Ministries is a 501(C)3 non-profit ministry.

Keep glo-ing. Visit our You Glo Girl! archives