Faith, hope, and love. Celebrate all three of these glorious gifts from God this month by sharing them with others. After all, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to glo  -- glorify God. Lavish His love on others this month, and you’ll glo girl!

A Personal Note & Request
by Laurie Cole, Founder & President

I am not writing my usual column this month. Instead, I want (and genuinely need) to share my heart with you. I am way outside my comfort zone these days. Yet I know without a doubt that I am exactly where God wants me to be. Even still, I desperately need your immediate prayers, and here’s why:

This weekend (Feb. 8-10) I will videotape the teaching sessions for Beauty by The Book: Becoming a Biblically Beautiful Woman.  Beauty by The Book (BBB) is the third Bible study I’ve written. But it is very different from previous studies because:

• It is shorter (just 6 weeks of homework; the previous two had 10).
  
  
• It is lighter (the homework takes between 15-20 minutes per day; the previous studies took 30-45 minutes).
  
  
• It will be videotaped in one weekend in a location outside my church (previous studies were videotaped on a weekly basis at Sagemont Church in Houston ).

However, even though BBB is a shorter, lighter study, its message is not. This is no lightweight Bible study. It is a powerful, practical call to every Christian woman to seek and set God’s standard for biblical beauty in our world today.

The world’s standard for beauty is plastered on countless magazine covers, television programs, and internet sites. It promotes and encourages women (young and old) to look, dress, and live a self-centered, promiscuous, sex-in-the-city lifestyle. And women, even Christian women, are buying in to it.

My heart has never been more burdened about the need for women to know God’s Word and study God’s standard than it is today. As I prepare to teach and videotape the messages for BBB, and as Priority prepares to release this study in the months ahead, I am pleading with you to pray for us. The enemy is very unhappy about the message of BBB, and he is working overtime to discourage me. But by God’s strength and because of your prayers, I will not relent. I am committed to standing firm and presenting the uncompromising truth of His Word.

A small, precious group of women and I will be surrounded by a camera crew and tech team this weekend as we videotape the teaching sessions for BBB. As I said before, we’ve never videotaped an entire study in one weekend, and we’ve never videotaped a study outside our church. Good-bye, comfort zone; hello, new level of faith. So, once again, please remember us in your prayers as we follow God by faith.

I also want to personally thank all of you who have prayerfully and financially supported the BBB project. Producing this study will cost approximately $44,000 which is a very large number for a very small ministry like Priority. But God is big, and His resources are unlimited. He has already provided over half of the necessary funding for this project, and we believe He will provide the rest. As soon as He does, you’ll be the first to know! If God is leading you to contribute to this project, please use the link below to make a donation. Thank you so much.

You know how liberating it feels when you unburden yourself by sharing your heart with someone?  That’s exactly how I feel right now. Thank you, dear sister, for “listening.” But most of all, thanks for praying.

Email Laurie

Click here to make a donation

Priority Passage of the Month

God loves you! So share His love with others this month just as He’s shared it with you. Freely. Sacrificially. With absolutely nothing held back. ”This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much,  we surely ought to love each other.”   1 John 4:10-11 NLT

New! Sneak Peek
by Stephanie Cole, Administrative & Prayer Director

Beginning this month, Stephanie will give you a sneak peek from Beauty by The Book. As Steph shares the inside scoop (along with a few excerpts from the study), you’ll learn the basic beauty dos and don’ts about how to become a biblically beautiful woman. Coming in May 2008! Beauty by The Book Becoming a Biblically Beautiful Woman A 7-week video-based study of the Proverbs

This is it, your very first sneak peak at Laurie's latest study, Beauty by The Book. Today you’ll meet the first of five women highlighted in the Book of Proverbs. And believe me, knowing and recognizing her is a must. She’s a seductive, sweet-talking, flatterer and our very first Biblical Beauty Don’t: the Immoral Woman. Take a look at how Proverbs 2 describes her:

Surfin' with Shanda
by Shanda Stiles, IT Director

Submit your favorite just-for-fun website and you could win free Priority resources!

Last month I asked our readers to send me their favorite blogs.  So what’s a blog, anyway?  A blog is basically an online diary or journal that is available on the web.  The activity of updating a blog is called “blogging” and someone who writes a blog is a “blogger”. 

Aloha Bishop ( Keller , TX ) likes to read Heidi Swapp’s blog.  If you like to scrapbook, you’ll like this blog because Heidi Swapp has a great line of scrapbooking products, as well as an interesting life.  She recently moved with her husband and 5 kids to China !

Ashley Naylor ( Friendswood , TX ) recommended Vicki Courtney’s Virtue Alert blog.  Vicki is a writer and speaker and offers great tips and encouragement for raising tweens and teens in today’s culture.

Aloha and Ashley will receive a FREE copy of Laurie’s You Glo Girl! 3-CD set. Congratulations, girlfriends!

One of my personal favorites is Mary Hunt’s blog.  I told you last month that I like to be frugal, so I enjoy reading her blog as she “goes on (and on) about money, debt, and living the life we love”. 

Next month, my column will feature websites that are just-for-fun -- nothing especially educational, spiritual or beneficial, but just good ol’ fun!  I have a few of my own fun favorites, but I’d sure like to find out some of your fun faves!  If your site shows up in my column, you’ll receive a FREE copy of Laurie’s We Have a Latte in Common 3-CD set.  I can’t wait to surf your faves!

Email Shanda your just-for-fun faves.

Priority Products
by Pam Henderson, Production & Resources Director

It’s February, a time for examining our heart condition. If you’re like me, a spiritual EKG is just what The Doctor orders to monitor the activity of my heart, recalibrate my relationship with Him, and revitalize my soul. If you need a spiritual EKG, I’ve found Laurie’s First Love teaching series is an excellent prescription for an effective heart exam.

In this First Love series, Laurie will encourage you to fall in love all over again with Jesus. Session One will teach you the foundations of How to Plan Your Own Wedding with the great Lover of your soul by seeking Him first and loving Him most. In Session Two, How Do I Love Thee?, you’ll count the ways to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And in Session Three, Ready for His Return, you’ll learn how to be prepared to confidently meet Jesus face to face.

3-CD series $15 Find out more...

Purchase First Love for your personal heart check-up this month.  You’ll find this and other Priority resources in our online store or call us toll-free at 1-866-YOUGLOGIRL (1-866-968-4564) to order by phone. Free Bonus Gift: Receive a free You Glo Girl! tote bag with your purchase of $50 or more. Your purchases support the mission of Priority Ministries: to encourage and equip women to love God most and seek Him first. Thank you!

Free Bonus Gift!

Journey with Janet & Laurie
by Janet Valentine, Executive Director

We began our very full 2008 speaking schedule by attending a spectacular weekend retreat in San Diego , California with Sonrise Community Church, Santee, CA. We were blessed by a beautiful setting at the Catamaran Resort on Mission Bay where we awakened each morning to a brilliant sunrise reflecting on the bay – which reminded us of the women of Sonrise. They definitely know and reflect the Son!

165 women attended the retreat, and they came ready to praise the Lord and be refreshed through the teaching of His Word.  For the past 19 years, the Sonrise women’s retreats have been taught by their gifted pastor’s wife, Sherry Foglio, who was such a blessing to us. Meet Sherry and our fantastic retreat coordinator, Shirley Clark. We had the privilege of hearing Sherry teach one session of the retreat entitled Beauty in the Balance. What glorious fellowship we enjoyed with our sisters in the Lord at Sonrise.

Laurie, Sherry, Shirley

Laurie teaching

Laurie delivered a powerful message on Beauty by the Book.

Praise team

Worship and praise for the retreat was lead by a wonderful group of women which included Karen Schendel, the Sonrise Women’s Ministry Director.

Praise & worship

The weekend concluded with a candlelight service as we sang Lord, I’m Amazed By You. It was a beautiful time to reflect upon the rich teaching and how it personally applied to our lives.

Candlelight service

Please join us in welcoming 81 new You Glo Girl! subscribers from Sonrise. These gals love to study the Bible and their church has offered all of Laurie’s studies. They are anxiously awaiting the release of Beauty by the Book.

So, to all of our new glo girlfriends at Sonrise: we loved meeting you; your sweet spirits encouraged our hearts; and we thank God for the way you’re giving Him priority at Sonrise and in your own personal hearts! Beginning the New Year with you was truly glorious.

In next month’s column, I’ll have lots to report. Laurie and I will be doing retreats and conferences in Cypress , TX , Linden , TX , and Oshkosh , Wisconsin . We love and appreciate all of you, and we rely on your prayer support as we journey all over the country calling women to give God priority.

Email Janet

Going & Glo-ing

Take a look at where Laurie and Janet will be going and glo-ing this month. Please remember them and the women who will be attending these events in your prayers. Feb 1-2 Women's Retreat Cypress Bible Church, Houston, TX Feb 8-10 Videotaping of Laurie's new study, Beauty By the Book Feb. 22-23 Women's Retreat First Baptist Church, Linden, TX Contact: Sherry Stanfield Feb. 29-Mar. 2 Women's Retreat Community Church of Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI Contact: Dawn Helm

Priority Partners
by Debbie Todd, Director of Support & Stewardship

As we prepare for the videotaping of Beauty by The Book, we want to thank all of you, our Priority Partners, who have been so faithful to support this new project. And I’ve got a scripture and an exciting praise report for you. First, here’s the scripture: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit” (John 15:5 NLT).

Now, here’s the praise: Ladies, we have witnessed the truth of John 15:5! Through you, Priority has currently received donations for more than half of costs for the Beauty by The Book project. Praise the Lord, and thank you so much!

After the videotaping, the next phase of this project will be production of the actual Beauty by The Book resources: the DVDs, CDs, workbooks, and leader guides. Each of these resources will be beautiful and professionally produced. But here’s the best part: these resources will bear more spiritual fruit in the lives of those who use them. The fruit of your gifts will continue to bear more fruit!

If you’d like to make a $10 or $25 gift toward this project, but you’ve thought, “It’s only a small gift. I wish I could give more,” I’ve got a very encouraging scripture for you: “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (Matthew 10:42 NLT). It is not how much you give. This project will be funded piece by piece as we all do our part. So please remember that God can bless and use any gift for His glory.

If God is stirring your heart to make a gift toward the Beauty by The Book project, I pray you’ll respond by clicking here to make a donation online, or by calling our toll-free number 1-866-YOUGLOGIRL (1-866-968-4564) to make a donation by phone. You can also mail your gift to us at: Priority Ministries, P. O. Box 590663 , Houston , TX 77259-0663 .

God bless you, precious Partner, for your support!

Click here to donate online Priority Ministries is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Because we covet your prayers, we present the following specific requests for you to take before the Lord during your daily prayer time. Thank you for interceding for us!

1. Continue to pray for the production of Laurie’s latest study, Beauty by The Book. Pray specifically for our financial needs, final production of the resources, and the multitude of details that are involved in this. 
   
   
2. Pray for safe travel for Laurie and Janet as they travel to three retreats and conferences this month ( Cypress , TX , Linden , TX and Oshkosh , WI ). Pray that God will move mightily through His Spirit as Laurie speaks. Ask that women’s hearts would be healed, refreshed and encouraged to serve God with passion and reverence. 

Got a prayer request? Please be encouraged to email it to Stephanie (Priority's Prayer Director). We’re so grateful for your prayers, and we’d consider it a joy and a privilege to pray for you, too.   

Email your prayer request to Stephanie

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

February = LOVE. And as February rolls around, I find my thoughts focusing on those I love so very much. Of course, with those thoughts come plans for special meals and treats. There are two recipes I want to share with you this month. One is an easy (fix-ahead) casserole and the other is a decadent chocolate dessert. If it’s February, it has to be chocolate! Enjoy!

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

¼ cup butter
¼ cup sliced onion
1 (4-ounce) packaged prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 (14-ounce) package broccoli florets, thawed and drained
½ cup chicken broth
2 cups chopped cooked chicken (rotisserie chickens are great for this!)
1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cups hot cooked penne noodles
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly grease a 3-quart baking dish.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.  Add green onion and prosciutto; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally or until prosciutto is crispy.  Add broccoli and chicken broth; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat.  Stir in chicken, soup, sour cream, cheese, mustard and pepper.  Add noodles, tossing gently to coat.  Spoon into prepared baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine panko and melted butter; sprinkle evenly over casserole.  Bake 30 minutes.

Chocolate-Cherry Surprise Cheesecake

½ cup butter
4 (1-ounce) unsweetened chocolate baking squares
2 ¼ cups sugar, divided
5 large eggs, divided
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese softened
½ cup sour cream
2 (1-ounce) semisweet chocolate baking squares, melted
1 can cherry pie filling, divided

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Melt butter and unsweetened chocolate squares in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes.  Stir in 1 ½ cups sugar.  Add 2 eggs, 1 at a time, blending well after each addition.  Add milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Add flour and salt, stirring until well blended.  Spread mixture evenly into a lightly greased 9-inch springform pan.  Bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees.  Remove from oven, and cool in pan on a wire rack.

Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.

Beat cream cheese and remaining ¾ cup sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.  Add remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla, beating just until blended.  Add remaining 3 eggs, 1 at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition.  Add sour cream and melted semisweet chocolate squares, beating just until blended.

Spoon 1 cup cherry pie filling evenly over prepared crust.  Pour chocolate cheesecake mixture over cherry pie filling.  Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until edges of cheesecake are set. (Center of cheesecake will not appear set.)  Turn oven off; let cheesecake stand in oven 15 minutes.  Remove cheesecake from oven; gently run a knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen.  Cool completely on a wire rack.  Cover and chill 8 hours.  Release and remove sides of pan. 

Garnish each slice with a tablespoon of cherry pie filling, sweetened whipped cream and a milk chocolate kiss.

Note: This may be long, but it is well worth the effort and can be made ahead of time. Trust me, it is delicious!

An alternate decadent chocolate dessert: Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to make edible valentines from refrigerated ready-to-bake brownies. Just bake brownies according to package directions, cut into individual hearts, ice with your favorite ready-to-use frosting, and decorate with candy hearts and sprinkles. They are adorable and so easy!

Finally, I would like to share a couple of fun websites with you. The first is healthylivingwithellie.com. Ellie is one of my favorites on the Food Network, and her website offers practical and useful hints on eating nutritiously – not just dieting. She even has a personalized menu plan available if you would like to join.

The second site is YourCardConnection.com. This site offers real paper cards from your computer. The cards are printed, stuffed, stamped and mailed for you at a cost of about $1. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, this would be a great time AND money saver. Check it out. Blessings to each of you!

Email Jan

Gotta Glo

We gotta glo for now, but before we close this issue of You Glo Girl!, we want to give you one of the sweetest scriptural “valentines” of all:

God loves you so much! Blow Valentine kisses to Him all month long by loving Him most and seeking Him first. Give Him priority, and you’ll glo girl!

Your sisters at Priority,

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