Waiting on God

by guest writer Deborah Lautt

I am a woman who hates to wait. Waiting in lines, waiting for returned phone calls, waiting in traffic jams- I painfully dislike any form of waiting! Waiting can be a very difficult thing to do, especially in our Western "going, going, going", and on-the-spot, ultra-achieving society. How is it that such a biblical task as "waiting" can have such an imminent reward every time it's used? I am such an "instant gratification" character that I think this is the paradox that attracts me to this repetitive biblical principle. To think that because such great and powerful things come out of "waiting on God", I'm actually starting to enjoy it with expectancy!

Throughout the Bible, different characters met obstacles that required the tough discipline of "waiting". So, what does it mean to "wait on God?" When David sings how "truly (his) soul waiteth on God" Ps. 26:1, the literal translation is "truly my soul is silent upon God." This is our soul, in utter hush and quietness, casting itself upon the Father of our very hearts. Two books later, his own son, Solomon, echoed the Lord's voice.

"Blessed is the man who heareth me, watches daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." Ps. 8-34

The thought here is that of a servant and his master. The slave may have no work or service to do at the moment, but he continually waits at his master's door, knowing that at any moment, the door may swing and his master may say, "My servant, I need you." So, likewise, I need to always be prepared at the "door" of my Father, whether it be for a job, a task, a wonderful call to be a wife, or even something so great my mind cannot fathom. I believe it is the attitude of readiness and obedience that God desires, that we might be able to avail ourselves for His sake whenever we're called, or at any given moment. No matter how long it takes, the patient, or the "waiters" in life need to keep their eyes on God, in prayer, in the Word, and on His principles. They're always true. And, while we're waiting for our answers to reveal themselves, try serving. It's always better to give than to receive. Give to the widows and orphans. Mentor those who don't have anyone to train them. Try to carve some time in your day to serve, or spend some time with someone who hasn't any hope. Waiting on God while "waiting on" others will never go unrecognized, or unreciprocated.

Through Solomon, the Holy Spirit concludes in Prov. 8:36 with the costly reminder that whoever "sins against me wrongs his own soul", and that "all those who hate me love death." Surely I want to choose the way of waiting on God than to rush into my own ways and fulfill that verse's negative outcome. The worldly saying, that "haste makes waste" surely originated from God's flawless Word. Oh, that I might always choose the Lord's narrow, sometimes more uncomfortable gate instead of the broader, quicker, and more convenient one!

The most encouraging verse in the Bible regarding my hopes for my vision's outcome is possibly Habakkuk's 2:3. I'm always humbled by this minor prophets' honesty in questioning, and his "impatience" for God's holy outcome. God is telling us each personally through this pillar in the faith to "write the vision (of our hearts' desire) and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry." Not only have I written my vision and dreams in a memoir, or, "tablet", but I pray over the written vision regularly. The Lord honors the faith of His righteous brides. In addition to that, Paul reaffirms his sisters that "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith'."

Women, believe God for bringing your children back. Believe God for financial breakthrough for your household. Believe God to answer your many prayers for your husband's salvation. As you prayerfully wait on God, it won't be impatience or our actions that moves your mountains. It will only be the God of our hearts Who is moved through your faith of waiting on Him. God bless your faithfulness, of which He's always mindful.

Networking Meeting Re-Cap & KBWomen Radio Info

Hello!
Wow, last night's Koinonia Business Women's meeting in Olympia was so great! Had several new folks join us - Chonita, Margo, Carla, & Sharris - welcome!

Here is a recap of our meeting for those of you who were unable to make it:
We had an excellent topic of discussion - overcoming limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. We all struggle with it at some level. Tammy brought up a great example from her childhood, about being labeled as a poor writer and bad at English. That stuck with her until she was 18, when a teacher helped to alter that belief.

Next, we discussed and updated everyone about www.TheWallofPrayer.com. It's going global!

FYI - Our typical May meeting will be replaced by a business workshop on May 19th. The 3-hour workshop will be held in Tacoma (at an amazing venue) for $34. Topics include:

• Creating an effective online business presence
• Using social media for business
• Defining your business to convey a clear and concise 'elevator pitch' to others

Registration will be open next week, so stay tuned. Men are welcome to attend. Seating is limited to 30 participants, max.

People had some great business questions last night, as well as some personal struggles to discuss. I think we achieved at least 20 full minutes of laughter mixed in there too!

KBWomen Radio: Tomorrow, April 23rd, we have a wonderful guest lined up to join us on KBWomen Radio. Women's money coach, Barbara Stanny, will be with us to help women overcome under-earning. This topic is hot, and a limiting belief that many of us have so be sure to listen in! Listen live at 9:30am PST or to the archived show later at this link: www.blogtalkradio.com/KBWomen.

Blessings to you all!

The Wall of Prayer Update - Day 5

Hello Friends!

It's early on day #5 of The Wall of Prayer (http://www.thewallofprayer.com/). Exciting things are happening and great connections are being made. Many have submitted prayer requests, and many have commented and prayed for the requests of others. The Wall has even become international!

Here is one response from someone who submitted a prayer request at The Wall: "I have been so encouraged by the love, kindness, and support.... I am overwhelmed! Never would I have dreamed of receiving such a blessing from the replies to my prayer request. Thank you."

Who do you know that needs to be here? Do you know people that have prayer needs? OK...do you know anyone who doesn't have prayer needs?? Everyone needs to join this community! Help us spread the word far and wide about http://www.thewallofprayer.com/.

We appreciate you! Have a blessed day.

Krista & Tammy

http://www.kbwomen.com/

KBWomen Radio Welcomes Jill Hart of CWAHM.com

Join us this Thursday, April 16th, at 9:30am PST for a special KBWomen Radio show with guest Jill Hart! Jill is the CEO/boss lady at http://www.cwahm.com/ and has become one of our good friends!

If you are a work-at-home mom...you will appreciate hearing Jill's words of wisdom from a Christian perspective. We'll ask her juicy questions like, "Give us some of your funniest WAHM moments", and "What have you heard God speaking to you lately?"

This light-hearted, informative interview will uplift and inspire you to do a good work for God, no matter what your obstacles are right now.

Listen 'live' online or listen to the archived show after recording at: www.blogtalkradio.com/KBWomen!

http://www.kbwomen.com/

BIG Annoucement! The Wall of Prayer is Here...

The Wall of Prayer has arrived! www.thewallofprayer.com

Koinonia Business Women, with the inspirational help of Noreen Jacks, is officially launching an exciting, new online community TODAY - 1 day after Easter - April 13th. This community of hope & encouragement is called The Wall of Prayer, and was created as an online resource for Christians to come together for the purpose of:

• Sharing prayer requests
• Celebrating praise reports
• Praying for the needs of others
• Strengthening prayer life
• Glorifying God

Our first 40-days is called "40-Days of Invitation". Will you join us as we pray and believe God for 1000 believers to join The Wall of Prayer during the first 40 days. We invite you to help us spread the word about this amazing, supportive, online community!

Think about it - If 50 people would invite just 1 person every-other day, for the next 40 days, we will reach our goal of 1000 Believers at The Wall of Prayer! Will you be counted?

To get started with your prayer request or praise report, sign up now at: http://www.thewallofprayer.com/.

To start sharing and inviting others to join you on The Wall of Prayer, send this link to 20 people who would love to know this resource exists! http://www.thewallofprayer.com/. Thank you!

We look forward to meeting you at The Wall!

http://www.kbwomen.com/

Easter Greetings

Happy Easter Blessings to You!

This past week, a friend sent me a great devotional message about the resurrection of Jesus. In a nutshell, this statement stood out to me - "Don't let Satan bind you with the grave clothes of yesterday's sin and defeat. You're not dead anymore. You've been raised with Jesus. Come out from the tombs and start living resurrection life!" - Kenneth Copeland

After reading it, my thoughts were racing. Are we being bound with grave clothes and if so, in what ways? How many times are our thoughts obsessing over 'dead things'? How come people feel defeated by a circumstance or situation and stay that way? How can each of us fully live with resurrection lives?

It starts with each of us coming out of our tombs to start truly living a life worthy of Jesus' sacrifice! He came and died so that we would have abundant LIFE. I choose abundant life!

-Krista Dunk

The Truth, as We Believe It

We act in accordance with the truth, as we believe it.

Did you know that April is the month for canceling out Negative Self-Talk at KBWomen? Well it is. We are casting down strongholds and limiting beliefs that have held our powerful women captive far too long. Will you join us? You may not even realize it, but did you know that ‘we act in accordance with the truth as we believe it?’ Well it’s true, scientifically proven, we do. So what that tells me, according to how I hear women speak about themselves is that, women everywhere believe they are less than blessed and highly favored!

Sadly, we have raised up generations of women that are speaking negative words into their lives in such a way that it is fostering limiting beliefs and sabotaging self efficacy (the positive lens I look at life through). Women everywhere seem to be using words of defeat and doubt when talking about themselves, their businesses and the services they provide. It has caught my attention at an alarming rate most recently. What I am perplexed with is that we were created for so much more, so why aren’t we living into Gods best?

The dictionary definition of Negative=lacking in constructiveness, helpfulness, optimism, cooperativeness, OR = being without rewards, results, or effectiveness.

Wow, now them are some fightin’ words y’all!!

But isn’t it interesting that The Words definition of negative = nothing, the word ‘negative’ is not even in the Bible! So what is that telling us? Well, we know that life and death is in the power of the tongue (Prov 18:21.) And, we know that a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Prov 15:4.) Interestingly, there are so many references in my concordance to the word 'Speak' that I couldn’t even count them all! Hokee Dinah! (A special Tammy term :-) God really wants us to be clear that we have power in our words and when we use them well, we reap the rewards.

So, why then do so many women have a hard time speaking positively over their hopes, dreams, lives, and situations? What has happened over the course of their life on earth that has gotten them so far off of God’s Word? In part, it comes from past conditioning and partially also from limiting beliefs that we have had placed on us by other people (or lifestyles we have had witnessed to us). It also comes in part (I believe) with how we see ourselves in Christ Jesus and the relationship that we do or do not have with Him. Christ was sent here to take on all of our earthly wounds, hurts, pain, grief, sickness and a host of other heavy burdens. He died and rose again so that we could not only live life, but live it more abundantly! That can’t truly be obtained if we are being a negative Nellie at every turnaround in our life. So what do we do about it now?

Call the tongue and negative mindset to come up under the wings of the Almighty God and seek forgiveness, from Him and yourself. Woman, don’t be so hard on you. Filter out the negative self-image, self-talk and self-awareness that you have carried for far too many years. God is so much bigger than how you may be living right now. He wants to see you rejoice in His glory, live life and live it more abundantly and He sees you as a beautiful princess designed for greatness. Get that image in your head and affirm it now that you 1. have new tongue, 2. that you were created for greatness, 3. that your Heavenly Daddy cherishes you, and 4. that you are Victorious! If we truly do act in accordance with the truth, as we believe it, then affirming how you act and live will move you toward your dreams and goals.

We are praying for you daily here at KBWomen that you may truly know and see what God has in store for you, your future and beyond. That you will act in accordance with His truth for your life. Here is an affirmation to help you get stared on changing your self-talk.

Affirmation: It’s just like me to walk with my head held high each day as the successful woman of God that I am, continually speaking blessing and favor over my life, my business, my family, and my home.

-Tammy Redmon

Business Networking Groups - Why Go?

Hello readers,

Heard of any interesting workshops or seminars lately? Or maybe you've been invited to attend a business networking group? Whether it's a group, meeting, conference, workshop, etc., why should you consider going?

From our point of view, live meetings, workshops, etc. have special benefits, and here are some of the note-worthy ones:

1. Dedicated time to learn
2. Find other, like-minded people
3. Get sales leads and potentially great connections with others
4. Hear about other resources that you may need
5. Get out and have some tax-deductible fun!

At Koinonia Business Women, we place a high value on our live meetings and events. We make friends, fellowship with like-minded Christian believers, discover networking opportunities, learn new business skills, and have fun. The interaction that happens encourages and lifts up each attendee, as they both share and receive.

Wish there was a meeting in your local area? Contact us today... you're probably not alone!
www.KBWomen.com