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You Glo Girl! - My January Journal
Volume 6.1 | January 2009
It's a New Year and You Glo Girl! has a new look! We hope you'll love the new artwork and updated layout, but we really hope this newsletter inspires you to glo - to glorify God - by glo-ing and growing in your spiritual life, glo-ing in your workplace, and glo-ing at home. Make 2009 the year you totally glo for it in every area of your life. You know: You Glo Girl!
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Glo-ing and Growing: My January Journal
 by Laurie Cole, Founder & President
How is God encouraging you to glo and grow this New Year? What about this month? Those are the two questions I'll be asking you every month this year, and I'm really hoping you'll send me your answers. But here's the deal: I'm going to be asking myself those same two questions and opening my heart and sharing my answers with you every month in 2009.
You see, I believe if we'll make it a priority to ask and answer those two questions this year, you and I are going to get real before God and before each other real quick. But that's not all. Because answering those questions will lead us to the ultimate question: How will we respond? It's not enough to just know how God is encouraging us to glo and grow. No, if we really want to glo and grow in 2009, we're going to have to do some things. Like change. Like repent. Like learn how to do our lives differently. Ready to start? I'll go first. Here's how God is encouraging me to glo and grow this year and this month, and here's how I'm choosing to respond.
As some of you know, my primary and absolutely fave daily quiet time tool is the One Year Bible. I love it because it makes reading through the entire Bible in a year easy to accomplish. But I love it most of all because it’s the primary tool God consistently uses to speak to my heart. So on January 1, I started reading “in the beginning.” In Genesis. It’s familiar territory for most of us. Creation. Perfection on earth. Adam and Eve. Everything is “good” . . . until Genesis 3. Heartbreaking, huh? But it was Genesis 4 where I first heard the Lord speak directly to me this month through my One Year Bible:
“Abel also brought a gift – the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock.
The Lord accepted Abel and his gift.”
Genesis 4:4 NLT
You know the story of Cain and Abel (yet another heartbreaking ending). I almost kept on reading, but I sensed God stopping me in my tracks at verse 4. I’ve learned through the years to listen to these promptings from His Spirit. But I also confess that sometimes I’m in a rush and I hope God won’t have too much to say or take too long as He shows me why I need to slow down, go back, read and reread a specific verse or passage. But I’ve also learned that it’s always, always, always worth every minute.
So I read and reread Genesis 4:4. Then I silently asked the Lord, “What are you saying to me through this verse?” Didn’t take long to get an answer. This year, this month, the Lord is encouraging me to glo and grow by being like Abel. By bringing Him my best and my first. Yes, it’s a tall order. But Abel did it. And God knows I can, too.
But as I said earlier, it’s not enough to simply know how God is encouraging us to glo and grow. He wants us to do something with that revealed knowledge.
So this is how I responded to God’s clear word to me in Genesis 4:4. I said, “Lord, I want to be like Abel. I want to give you my first. I want to give you my best. But I need You to show me how. I need specifics. Today, as I go about my daily routine, show me how I can be an Abel. Show me how I can give you my first and my best. And as You show me, I will obey.” And guess what? No surprise. He showed me.
That very day He revealed to me that my attitude toward my routine and my daily responsibilities needed to change. I was allowing my looong “to do” list to defeat and discourage me. He’d heard me fussing and fuming in my spirit, so He challenged me to thank Him for each chore and to see my work from His perspective: as His gift to me (Ecclesiastes
3:13
). So right then and right there, I confessed my sinful attitude and repented. And I started praising Him for filling my days and for entrusting me with responsibilities. Then hallelujah! He helped me, and we began checking things off that looong list. Can I hear an “amen,” sister?!!
Everyday God is showing me how to be like Abel. Everyday He’s revealing new ways to give Him my best and my first. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a miraculous thing really. God speaks to me. God encourages me. God gets right in the big middle of my life and shows me specific ways I can glo – glorify Him – in my everyday routine by giving Him my best and my first. And He’s growing me. Every day.
So, let’s get back to you. How is God encouraging you to glo and grow this New Year? This month? He really does have something to say to you. Something specific. Are you taking time to get into His Word to hear Him? For me, that’s where it usually begins. But I also know that He can speak to us through our circumstances, through others, through prayer, and countless other ways. So I repeat: How is God encouraging you to glo and grow this year and this month?
This year I’m inviting you this year to glo and grow with me. I’ll share my heart with you each month, and I want you to share your heart with me, too. Let’s glo. Let’s grow. Together. Can’t wait to hear how God is speaking to you . . . and especially how you’re responding to Him. We’re going to have a great year glo-ing and growing together!
Your sister,
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| Priority Passage of the Month
No need to wonder what your #1 resolution for 2009 should be. God's already written it down for you:
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul, and all your mind."
Matthew 22:37 NLT
"Dear children, keep away from anything
that might take God's place in your hearts."
1 John 5:21 NLT
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Jots from Janet
 by Janet Valentine, Executive Director
Happy hope-filled New Year! So many of you have heard about my health issues and recent diagnosis of myelofibrosis. But this month I want to share firsthand with you what's going on. I've got lots of hope-filled news and a website I hope you'll visit and share with others who, like me, are facing challenging health issues. Here's the scoop...
On December 17, I began a clinical trial of a chemo drug that will hopefully bring my blood and bone marrow back into the normal range. As of now, I am the 8th person to join this clinical trial and the first at MD Anderson Cancer Center here in
Houston
. My physician ( Dr. Srdan Verstovsik) is one of the co-authors. He is amazing, but God is more amazing!
So far I have had two infusions (I will get them every three weeks for possibly the next year). My last blood test revealed the blood numbers are improving. They’re still not within normal range, but there’s definitely cause for rejoicing!
Yes, there are side effects to this drug, but they aren’t bad enough to cause me to withdraw from the clinical trial. Please pray that they won’t worsen and that my lack of energy and achy muscles will get better, or (better yet) go away!
As you can imagine, my reliance upon God’s sovereignty has been heightened. God has a plan. He is at work, and He is in charge. Those truths are unchangeable and undeniable. God has given me added faith and hope through songs, psalms, friends, family and sermons during this time.
I want to share part of a sermon with you that I heard on the way to MD Anderson the other day. It was the wrap-up of a message by Chuck Swindoll:
“As believers we can trust the promises of God’s timeless truths found in the scripture. At the heart of the matter is His sovereignty. He has always been and always will be. His sovereignty today is no different from any other day in all of time.
“However, in the midst of our chaotic and complicated lives we often can forget that He has a plan (Jeremiah 29: 11). When saints are on the scaffolding of troubled times –there are four common pitfalls to remember:
- We can fall off the scaffolding of trusting God’s sovereignty if we fail to think FIRST of God’s sovereignty.
- We must think ahead, not focus on the here and now. God’s plan runs the course. It is ever unfolding .
- We can fall off the scaffolding of trusting God’s sovereignty if we allow panic to eclipse trust. Then we find ourselves UNDER the circumstances.
- Lastly, we can fall off the scaffolding of trusting God’s sovereignty if we are unwilling to wait. ”
Swindoll closed by suggesting that we start each day with this prayer: “Lord, I am at your mercy and at your disposal.”
I was driving down the freeway, listening to Swindoll’s message convinced that God was speaking to me through his message – so I scribbled down the notes. And I am so glad I did!
Won’t you join me in a hope-filled New Year? Let’s place our focus on God and His sovereign plan not asking for an explanation or a different plan but trusting Him completely. Thank you all for praying for me.
My daughter, Courtney, set up a wonderful website for me to help me keep in touch with my friends, family, and you. Hope you’ll take a look at it and maybe even post a note there. Here’s the link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/janetvalentine. And if you know someone like me who is facing a difficult diagnosis, tell them about www.caringbridge.org, too.
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Priority Prayer Points
We covet your prayers for Priority. So would you please take a moment to read and intercede for the following prayer needs? Bless you!
- Pray for women all across the country who are beginning Priority Bible Studies this month. Ask God to transform their lives through His Word and to enable a Divine ripple effect to take place as their lives touches others for His eternal glory.
- Pray for Janet Valentine as she continues chemo treatments for myelofibrosis. Ask God to protect her immune system, to give her Divine strength, to encourage her spiritually and emotionally, and to supernaturally heal every cell in her body.
- Pray for Priority as we actively seek God's leadership to secure office space. We desire His will and His will alone. Ask Him to make this crystal clear to Laurie, our staff, and our Board of Directors.
How can we pray for you? Email your request to Stephanie, our Prayer Director, and we promise to pray for you, too.
Email your prayer request to Stephanie
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Glo-ing at Home
 by Jan Hart, Administrative Support
For each of us, a new year always brings a desire to organize everything: home, office, and ourselves. I want to share a couple of web sites with you that I have found very useful. Plus, I've got a great January dessert recipe you're going to love.
The first website offers a wonderful array of kitchen organizers. One in particular is the drawer dividers – they’re fabulous! You can take your junk drawer and make it something really useful. Just check out http://www.123axis.com/
Next, take a look at http://lifeorganizers.com/home. You’ll find great ideas for organizing everything (and I mean everything). Home organization. It’s just one of the many, many ways you can glo in your home!
Finally, I would like to share a wonderful “comfort” dessert. My precious friend, Rosemary, brought this by our office this week and it is delish. Since we are experiencing a “real winter,” why not put on a pot of your family’s favorite soup, bake this wonderful pound cake, have a special family night and glo big time at home, girl!
Click on the recipe below to print!
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Gotta Glo
OK, so how'd you like the first issue of our new You Glo Girl? Are you more encouraged to glo than you were before you read it? Are you already looking forward to next month's issue? We sure hope so, so let us hear from you. We love your feedback and you'll make our day if you'll dash off a quick email to us.Thanks!
We've got lots of new ideas planned for You Glo Girl! in 2009, so stay tuned as we roll out another new glo girl in February. Until then, we've got one last thing to say to you, sister: You glo, girl!
Loving Him most, seeking Him first -
Your sisters at Priority,
Laurie Cole, Janet Valentine, Courtney Hays,
Pam Henderson, Shanda Stiles, Jan Hart,
Debbie Todd, and Stephanie Cole
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.
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Watch Laurie on February 5 with James and Betty Robison on the Life Today television program. For more information about station and programming in your area, click here.
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Going & Glo-ing
Here's where Laurie & Janet are headed this month. Please pray. Thanks!
Jan. 23-24
Women's Retreat
White Dove Fellowship,
Marrero, LA
Contact: Linda Hudson
Jan. 30
Girls Night Out
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church,
Nassau Bay, TX
Feb. 5
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