In This Issue

Every time you said things like that, my response was the same: “Thank you so much for the encouragement. I’ll pray about.” So I did. I prayed. But even as I prayed, I’d usually tell God, “Lord, You know these mamas are really encouraging me to write this study for girls. But Lord You and I both know that I don’t teach girls – I teach women.” After that I’d remind God about Vicki Courtney and all of her good, biblical stuff for teens, say amen and move right along working on my next Bible study for women. But despite my very best efforts, that next Bible study for women just never would come together.  

Then last August, God dropped an email in my inbox that ultimately introduced me to someone I’d never met before. My dear friend, Jenny Broughton, forwarded an email to me that she’d received from Wanda Schellenbarger, a friend of hers in Missouri .  Wanda had no idea that Jenny knew me, but here’s a snippet from Wanda’s email to Jenny:

Has God ever had to drop an anvil on your head to get you to hear Him? If so, then you know just how I felt when I read Wanda’s note. Her note was God’s anvil admonishing my hard-headed self to set aside the women’s study that I was writing and to stop ignoring His clear command in Titus 2:3-4: older women are to teach younger women how to live godly lives. So after writing Wanda to thank her for the way God had used her in the lives of those young women in Missouri , I started writing the study that God had been trying to get me to write for months.

Pray for the Pilot Bookmark

As the mother of three sons, I have never enjoyed the privilege of raising girls or of teaching a daughter how to become a godly woman – and I didn’t think I ever would. And truthfully, that’s one of the major reasons why I have resisted your consistent encouragement to write Beauty by The Book for teens. I felt unqualified and inexperienced... which brings me to some questions I feel led to ask you, dear sister.

Has God been inviting you to step out by faith and serve Him in an area where you feel unqualified? Has He been consistently sending others to deliver similar messages or identical invitations to you? Have you repeatedly said, “Yes, I’ll pray about that,” but your prayers are really just a long list of excuses about why you can’t/won’t/couldn’t possibly be the one for the job? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then heads up. I’ve got an anvil from God for you.  It’s a list of some of God’s most successful servants, all of whom felt unqualified to serve Him:

• Moses (Exodus 3:11 , 4:10 )
• Gideon (Judges 6:15 )
• Solomon  (1 Kings 3:7-8)
• Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5)
• Peter (Luke 23:60-62, John 21:3)
• Paul (1 Timothy 1:15 )

If you’ve ever felt unqualified to answer God’s call, you’re in very good company. And just like Moses, Gideon, Solomon, Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, God wants you to choose to step out by faith and follow Him in spite of your own inadequacies, fears, and failures. But on the slight chance that you’re still be resisting His persisting call, I’ve got one more anvil for you. It’s 2 Corinthians 12:9:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” (NIV).  

Feeling weak? Or unqualified? How about inexperienced? Great! That makes you the perfect vessel to display God’s power and grace. So don’t wait for God to drop another anvil on your hard head. Get out there and do what He’s calling you to do. And don’t forget to pray for me as I prepare to teach a group of teen girls – or, as I prefer to call them, “young women.”

Priority Passage of the Month

Whatever God calls or commands you to do, here’s the first and last step to help you follow Him:

(Don't forget! Click the Scripture above to view a printable format.)

Give Him priority, dear sister, and He’ll give you all the strength you need to follow Him.

$70,000. That’s approximately how much it will cost for us to produce the new Beauty by The Book for teens study. As a Titus 2 older woman, would you help us produce this study and train young women how to live godly lives? Your contribution – whether it’s $10 or $1000 – will help us so much.

Click here to make your online donation now for the Beauty by The Book for teens project. Or, if you prefer, mail your gift to Priority Ministries, 711 W. Bay Area Blvd., Suite 214 , Webster , TX   77598 . God bless you for supporting this mission!

Priority Ministries is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. All gifts received are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

On the Road Again

Laurie and Janet hit the road in January and headed to North Texas for the Pantego Bible Church Women’s Retreat. Led by Dottie Williams (Pantego’s Women’s Ministry) and retreat coordinators, Kara Gunn and Pam Clark, over 200 women braved freezing temperatures and were rewarded with a retreat extravaganza! As you look at the following pictures, you’ll see a group of women who love God and embrace His Word, and who love each other and enjoy true fellowship. What a privilege it was to be with them for such a glorious weekend!

Janet and Laurie with our new friend, Dottie Williams. Dottie, we love you!	A crowd shot of the 200+ wonderful women from Pantego. You girls are awesome! We miss y’all.	We had a star at the Pantego Retreat! Melissa Lawson, 2008  Nashville Star winner is a faithful member at Pantego. She and Laurie had a little fun doing a duet at the retreat. Melissa, you rock, girl!
One of the first people Janet and Laurie met at Pantego was Annemarie Gorgus, a precious young woman from Germany . Anne invited Christ into her heart at the retreat! Please pray for her as she grows in her relationship with the Lord and returns to Germany .	The Pantego Retreat always begins with a Friday night pajama party. Way fun! And Laurie loved teaching the first session in her robe and pajamas.	Praise and worship was wonderful all weekend long thanks to the leadership of Pantego’s anointed women’s praise team.

We’re thrilled to welcome many, many Pantego girlfriends as new You Glo Girl! subscribers this month! We enjoyed meeting so many of you, and Laurie especially enjoyed a fun reunion with Denise Smith and sweet fellowship with Tiffany Daniels. To all of our sisters at Pantego, thanks for your love and warm welcome. We can’t wait to see you again at the Pantego Women’s Retreat in 2011! Whoo-hoo!!

Become a Priority Prayer Warrior
by Nancy Campbell, Prayer Director

Are you an intercessor? Do you believe in the power of prayer? If so, then I want to invite you to prayerfully consider becoming a Priority Prayer Warrior.

Priority Prayer Warriors are a special group of women who pray for specific prayer needs for this ministry and for those who contact us and request prayer. As a Prayer Warrior, you will receive a brief email from me a few times each month requesting specific prayer for Laurie as she travels and speaks as well as specific prayer requests that we receive through our website.

To become a Priority Prayer Warrior, just send me an email and let me know. There is no obligation whatsoever other than your commitment pray. I look forward to hearing from you!

Need prayer? The Priority Prayer Warriors and I count it our privilege to pray for you. Please send your prayer request to me, and know that we will intercede for you faithfully and confidentially. God bless you!

Email Nancy your prayer request

Glo-ing at Home
by Jan Hart, Administrative Support

One thing on everyone’s mind these days is finding ways to make those dollars stretch.  Money is tight, and we so want to be good stewards of the financial blessings from our heavenly Father. Here are a dozen ways you can save $$ and be a good steward:

1. Don’t pay full price for anything ever again!  Make sure you’re maximizing discount potential by searching the internet for your favorite retailers and coupons before hitting the mall or grocery store.
2. Shop smarter. Retailers have specific days when they put out new stock and mark down merchandise, so ask the next time you’re in the store and then sync up your shopping with the store’s schedule.
3. Save on entertainment. Use the DVD rental at the little red box kiosk instead of DVD rental at a video store.  $1 per night instead of $4.50 for 2 days.
4. Check out those thrift stores in the fancier parts of town.  They’re more likely to carry well-known brands and good quality clothing, furniture, and other items at a discount.
5. Sell old items and make money. Sell video games and consoles at places like GameStop.  Check out Plato’s Closet for clothing and accessories; Music-Go-Round will buy used instruments.
6. This next tip comes straight from Heloise: Stock up on sale items that have a long shelf life such as toothpaste, toilet tissue, paper towels, and deodorant, most cleaning supplies and products for your car.
7. Save on electric bills by turning down the lights.  Installing dimmer switches helps create an inviting atmosphere and it makes good sense.  A regular bulb dimmed by 50 percent uses less energy and extends its life.  Also consider using compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.  CFLs cost more but use 75% less energy!
8. Dishwashers save time and money. Don’t hand-wash dishes (priceless news for busy moms).  It actually costs less money to run full loads in the dishwasher than to scrub dishes yourself.
9. Save on food by using whole grains. Pearl barley, brown rice and bulgar are low in fat, high in protein and tummy-filling.  Combine with meat or veggies to make a little go a long and healthy way.
10. Keep track of spending. You can use a notebook, keep receipts in an envelope, or try software.  Whatever you choose lets you see your purchasing patterns (reality check!!)
11. Set a budget and stick to it. Set yourself an indulgence budget for dining out, movies, pricey lattes, etc.  Remember when it’s gone, it’s gone.  You have to wait for the next month to indulge yourself again.
12. Give up bottled water and save big.  $1,250 a year – that’s how much a four-person family spends if they purchase sixteen 20-ounce bottles of water per week at a cost of $1.50 each.  This same family can drink their full 64 ounces of water a day (an astounding $2,190 if bottled) from the faucet for a total of $2 a year; and it only takes seconds to fill up a glass or a reusable plastic water bottle.  If you are worried about contaminants, invest in a faucet-mounted filter for a low $30.

This month’s recipe is quick, delicious and budget friendly – why not try it tonight?

Click on the recipe below to print! 

Loving Him most, seeking Him first,  

Laurie Cole, Pam Henderson, Shanda Stiles, Jan Hart,
Debbie Todd, Stephanie Cole, and Nancy Campbell
Priority Ministries Staff