by Dawn Ford
Now wait a minute, before you get all riled up and angry, hear me out. In our day and age, the term “liberal” has been hijacked to describe a political ideology, taking on a very negative connotation in conservative circles. But if you look up the true definition of the word, it means a lot more than its current usage.
Liberal: adjective
• Free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant,
• Open-minded,
• Characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts,
• Given freely or abundantly; generous.
Not the picture we normally conjure up is it...and how does Jesus fit in? In the 400 years of silence between the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, a ruling political and social class rose in the nation of Israel. These men were known as the Scribes, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They each had specific jobs, and rarely got along with one another, but together they twisted Mosaic Law into an impossible set of rules and regulations. Couple this with Roman occupation and the Jewish people where under constant oppression. In first century Palestine, they were primed for a Messiah to rescue them.
On to this backdrop, Jesus enters the scene. Not preaching a military overthrow, but still radical in his ideas for the time. Imagine how crazy his first public sermon recorded in the Gospel of Matthew must have sounded? Jesus was bold and he spoke to his Jewish audience, challenging everything they thought was truth. With statements like:
• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you,” Matt 5:11-12.
Bless are those who persecute me? What? I’m suppose to take that? You’re tell me I must bless the Romans?
• “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment,” Matt 5:21-22.
Anytime Jesus says, “You heard that...” He is quoting Jewish Mosaic Law (from Moses) back to them, scripture they already knew, and radically changing it. Being angry is sin? That’s not what the 10 commandments say, and not what they were taught. And come on, for hundreds of years and what’s happened to us, we have a right to be angry.
• "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also,” Matt 5-38-39.
We deserve to be able to take revenge on our enemies.
• "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matt 5:43-44.
Can you imagine, all those people listening to this sermon...ruling class, worker bees and slaves...Love your enemies, pray for them....His guy is a nut! And there is even more; the sermon goes on for two more chapters, but you get the idea. Jesus came at the right time not to mock what the law, but to make them realize how far they had twisted it. No one including the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were the religious leaders of the time, could possibly live up to the rules and regulations that they had created and no one should. They were missing the point and Jesus was calling them on it.
For the next three years he didn’t just preach about what they need to change, he demonstrated what he meant. He didn’t just preach about being loving, or serving others, he generously, “liberally” if you will, gave of himself to the crowds, to his disciples, to people he met on the street. He was open-minded (liberal) in his love for others. He hung out with, broke bread with sinners, tax-collectors, lepers, prostitutes and the marginalized. He was patient and tolerate (liberal) with those who disagreed with him. Though he always spoke truth, and never was so tolerate that he watered down his message, he never did in a way that would disgrace His Father in Heaven. And though he was is Father’s son, he abundantly, generously, liberally, gave of himself for us and died on a cross.
How about us? As His followers, as people who claim to know Him, love Him and speak in His name...How “liberal” are we, with our love, our generosity our tolerance. I used to really enjoy the song, “They Will Know We Our Christians by our Love.” Sadly I fear, many of us are known more for the fish on our car, the cross on our neck or the T-shirt we don, instead of how we radically love others in His name. We play on “the team,” of Christian, but how many of us actually get off the sidelines and get our jersey dirty. How many of us really know the Word of God for ourselves and not just have it fed to us by someone else. How many of us can present the truth and love of the gospel message not, by how we “preach” it to others, but by how we live our lives?
If we want Jesus to radically change others, we need to let Him radically change us. We need to dive into His Word and read about His liberal love first hand, so we can in turn generously love others. Now is the time my friends, not to be “conservative” with your knowledge of Christ, but serve and love others with a liberal compassion that mirrors who we serve. Jesus my loves is calling you out...how are you going to answer?
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director of Infinite Love Ministries, INC. a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. For more information visit www.infiniteloveministries.com
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Ultimate Butterfly Effect, Part 2
By: Dawn B. Ford
Part 2 of 3
In part one of this series (right below this post), we explored the scientific principle of the Butterfly Effect, which states everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a given pattern could have profound affects. Using this law of physics as our starting point, we explored the idea that we could become a Butterfly Effect ourselves and have a positive effect on others. This section will look at some tangible ways to put our idea into practice.
So how can “little old you” affect many?
Your Sphere of Influence
Before you get overwhelmed with the concept of affecting thousands, millions or billions of people, stop, breathe and open your eyes. You won’t have to look long...there are literally hurting people everywhere. You don’t have to start grand, just a simple act of service can mean a lot.
Sometimes all a person needs is a smile, a hug, a helping hand or a listening ear. What if we all slowed down long enough to meet another’s need? How could you change a life today by just increasing your awareness and shifting your focus from your “to do list” to your “meet a need list.” Stop right now and think...is there someone you need to call? Is there a co-worker that is struggling? Is there a neighbor who needs a helping hand? Is there a spouse or a child who needs a little encouragement?
And what if you are the one who is hurting? Research shows that when we step out of ourselves and help others, we in turn are helped. Psychologists, Mark Snyder, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Allen Omoto, PhD, from the Claremont Graduate University have studied individuals who volunteer for over 20 years. They have surveyed thousands of volunteers from all different age groups, all different backgrounds and have identified five primary motivations as to why people volunteer:
• Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns. For some people this can have a religious component.
• Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.
• Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or escape other pressures.
• Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.
• Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career.
As you can see 3 of the 5 motivations start as a self-driven focus that moves outward, so both individuals benefit from the act of service. Another study conducted at the University of Kansas, showed the more someone volunteered, the more their compassion and concern grew. When you move in serve to another, you not only give, but also receive a positive Butterfly Effect. (“Helping Others, Helping Ourselves”, By Lea Winerman, Monitor On Psychology, December 2006, Vol. 37, No. 11, Print version: page 38).
Your Gifts and Talents
Everyone is good at something. Are you a whiz with computers or a gifted teacher? Are you good with a hammer or are you great at organizing? Maybe you can cook like nobody’s business?
Why not use your gifts and talents to help others? There are literally hundreds of organizations with all different focuses in need of your expertise. We’ve all been given special gifts and talents we cannot horde or keep to ourselves. Figure out what you’re passionate about, what would get you out of bed on a Saturday morning and start there. The more you enjoy something, the less work it is and the more someone would benefit from your abilities.
This also sustains the Butterfly Effect, as an article published in 1998 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 74, No. 6, pages 1516-1530), revealed. Psychologist E. Gil Clary, PhD, and Snyder found that the more closely a volunteer’s motivations and talents where match with the act of serve, the longer they volunteered.
On the flip side of things, being a positive Butterfly Effect can also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and try something you would not normally do. When I felt the pull to go on my first mission trip, I was planning to go with a group called Operation Smile. They help children all over the world who were born with cleft lip and/or palate. As a speech language pathologist, this is something I do as part of my career, so it would have been second nature. For reasons, out of my control the trip didn’t work out.
Instead I went with a friend to Mississippi to rebuild houses for family’s devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Me, Dawn B. Ford, afraid of power tools, afraid of heights and ladders and had never really picked up a hammer in her life, I was going to go help rebuild houses??? Well let me tell you, it was the most amazing trips of my life. I loved every minute of it. It was something I had never done and would have thought I could never do.
To Serve is a Verb
To serve: (verb)
• To render assistance; be of use; help.
• To be in the service of; work for.
• To be useful or of service to; help.
The act of serving or being a positive Butterfly Effect requires action. So you must get involved, you must invest your time, your talents and you must engage in relationships.
If you are involved in a church there are many opportunities to serve. If that is not your thing, get involved with a service project at work or check out your local newspaper /radio. I also found a great website called Volunteer Match.Org. All you need to enter is your zip code and all the local service opportunities in your area will pop up.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/
An organization near and dear to my heart is Led2Serve. Cofounders, Nancy Cummings and Vanessa Puleo equip, inspire and mobilize people to serve. If you, your family or your group want to find a serve project they have opportunities, locally in Orlando, nationally and internationally. And if you have a need for volunteers they can help you get the hands and feet you need.
http://www.led2serve.com/
Today there is so much darkness in the world and its time we all got together and shed some light. We can all be a positive Butterfly Effect, start small. Just start. Who knows the lives you can impact forever, if you start today.
Part three will highlight individuals both past and present who used the Butterfly Effect impact millions and changed the world.
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries. A Florida Non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. Check out their website at http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/
Part 2 of 3
In part one of this series (right below this post), we explored the scientific principle of the Butterfly Effect, which states everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a given pattern could have profound affects. Using this law of physics as our starting point, we explored the idea that we could become a Butterfly Effect ourselves and have a positive effect on others. This section will look at some tangible ways to put our idea into practice.
So how can “little old you” affect many?
Your Sphere of Influence
Before you get overwhelmed with the concept of affecting thousands, millions or billions of people, stop, breathe and open your eyes. You won’t have to look long...there are literally hurting people everywhere. You don’t have to start grand, just a simple act of service can mean a lot.
Sometimes all a person needs is a smile, a hug, a helping hand or a listening ear. What if we all slowed down long enough to meet another’s need? How could you change a life today by just increasing your awareness and shifting your focus from your “to do list” to your “meet a need list.” Stop right now and think...is there someone you need to call? Is there a co-worker that is struggling? Is there a neighbor who needs a helping hand? Is there a spouse or a child who needs a little encouragement?
And what if you are the one who is hurting? Research shows that when we step out of ourselves and help others, we in turn are helped. Psychologists, Mark Snyder, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Allen Omoto, PhD, from the Claremont Graduate University have studied individuals who volunteer for over 20 years. They have surveyed thousands of volunteers from all different age groups, all different backgrounds and have identified five primary motivations as to why people volunteer:
• Values. Volunteering to satisfy personal values or humanitarian concerns. For some people this can have a religious component.
• Community concern. Volunteering to help a particular community, such as a neighborhood or ethnic group, to which you feel attached.
• Esteem enhancement. Volunteering to feel better about yourself or escape other pressures.
• Understanding. Volunteering to gain a better understanding of other people, cultures or places.
• Personal development. Volunteering to challenge yourself, meet new people and make new friends, or further your career.
As you can see 3 of the 5 motivations start as a self-driven focus that moves outward, so both individuals benefit from the act of service. Another study conducted at the University of Kansas, showed the more someone volunteered, the more their compassion and concern grew. When you move in serve to another, you not only give, but also receive a positive Butterfly Effect. (“Helping Others, Helping Ourselves”, By Lea Winerman, Monitor On Psychology, December 2006, Vol. 37, No. 11, Print version: page 38).
Your Gifts and Talents
Everyone is good at something. Are you a whiz with computers or a gifted teacher? Are you good with a hammer or are you great at organizing? Maybe you can cook like nobody’s business?
Why not use your gifts and talents to help others? There are literally hundreds of organizations with all different focuses in need of your expertise. We’ve all been given special gifts and talents we cannot horde or keep to ourselves. Figure out what you’re passionate about, what would get you out of bed on a Saturday morning and start there. The more you enjoy something, the less work it is and the more someone would benefit from your abilities.
This also sustains the Butterfly Effect, as an article published in 1998 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 74, No. 6, pages 1516-1530), revealed. Psychologist E. Gil Clary, PhD, and Snyder found that the more closely a volunteer’s motivations and talents where match with the act of serve, the longer they volunteered.
On the flip side of things, being a positive Butterfly Effect can also allow you to step out of your comfort zone and try something you would not normally do. When I felt the pull to go on my first mission trip, I was planning to go with a group called Operation Smile. They help children all over the world who were born with cleft lip and/or palate. As a speech language pathologist, this is something I do as part of my career, so it would have been second nature. For reasons, out of my control the trip didn’t work out.
Instead I went with a friend to Mississippi to rebuild houses for family’s devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Me, Dawn B. Ford, afraid of power tools, afraid of heights and ladders and had never really picked up a hammer in her life, I was going to go help rebuild houses??? Well let me tell you, it was the most amazing trips of my life. I loved every minute of it. It was something I had never done and would have thought I could never do.
To Serve is a Verb
To serve: (verb)
• To render assistance; be of use; help.
• To be in the service of; work for.
• To be useful or of service to; help.
The act of serving or being a positive Butterfly Effect requires action. So you must get involved, you must invest your time, your talents and you must engage in relationships.
If you are involved in a church there are many opportunities to serve. If that is not your thing, get involved with a service project at work or check out your local newspaper /radio. I also found a great website called Volunteer Match.Org. All you need to enter is your zip code and all the local service opportunities in your area will pop up.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/
An organization near and dear to my heart is Led2Serve. Cofounders, Nancy Cummings and Vanessa Puleo equip, inspire and mobilize people to serve. If you, your family or your group want to find a serve project they have opportunities, locally in Orlando, nationally and internationally. And if you have a need for volunteers they can help you get the hands and feet you need.
http://www.led2serve.com/
Today there is so much darkness in the world and its time we all got together and shed some light. We can all be a positive Butterfly Effect, start small. Just start. Who knows the lives you can impact forever, if you start today.
Part three will highlight individuals both past and present who used the Butterfly Effect impact millions and changed the world.
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries. A Florida Non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the infinite love of Christ. Check out their website at http://www.infiniteloveministries.com/
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Ultimate Butterfly Effect
Part 1 of 3
By Dawn Ford
I have a dear friend who is very into Physics. In an attempt to have some frame of reference and to increase our possible conversation topics, I did what everyone does now-a-days...I did a Google search. Before I was buried too deep in the endless cycle of information I came upon some fascinating research – it’s called the Butterfly Effect.
In 1963, Edward Lorenz, a mathematician, gave a presentation to the New York Academy of Sciences. His theory, called the Butterfly Effect, stated that a butterfly could flap its wings and set air molecules in motion that in turn would move other air molecules — which would then move additional air molecules — eventually becoming able to influence weather patterns on the other side of the planet. For years this theory remained an interesting myth. In the mid 1990s, however, physics professors from several universities, working in tandem, proved the butterfly effect was accurate, viable, and worked every time. It has since been given the status of a law and is now known in scientific circles as the sensitive dependence on initial conditions.
That’s pretty much a fancy way of saying that everything in weather is interconnected and the slightest change in a pattern could have profound affects. Which got me thinking, does the Butterfly Effect only apply to weather or could it translate to other areas? Could we apply the concept to our lives? What would happen if we looked at every interaction or action we take, as having the potential to be extremely significant? We would have to realize that everything we do matters...whether positive or negative, whether good or evil, EVERYTHING WE DO MATTERS.
We can’t change the past, but isn’t it safe to assume we could make small changes now that will have a huge impact later? What if we made a conscious effort that when we come in contact with others, we would be a positive Butterfly Effect in their lives? How would their lives be changed? How would ours be changed?
Just think if all of us decided to flutter our wings with a little more kindness, a little more patience, a little more forgiveness, a little more love. We could permanently affect those around us. And then what if we took it a step further? What if we fed someone, clothed them, provide shelter, taught them to read, or gave them proper medical care?
Each of us have been given gifts and talents and we can’t waste or horde them. Each one of us is significant, special and here for a purpose. Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s dramatic, but each one of us, by our own hand has the potential to alter thousands, millions, billions of lives. A positive Butterfly Effect...think about it, lives being changed, caught in a chain of events begun by you this day. So where would you begin?
Part 2 of this article will explore the tangible ways you can become a positive Butterfly Effect.
Dawn Ford is the VP and creative director for Infinite Love Ministries, a FL non-profit corporation dedicated to showing all the Infinite Love of Christ. www.infiniteloveminsitries.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Making a Plan and Working the Plan
Hello,
Below you'll find our goals and objectives for 2011. We'll keep you posted as the year goes along. We wanted to share these with you for several reasons...
1. So you can keep us in prayer.
2. So you can give us feedback.
3. So you can help us stay accountable.
Thank you for you continued support.
Dawn Ford, VP Infinite Love Ministries
Dawn@infiniteloveministries.com
Goals and Objectives for Infinite Love Ministries 2011
Objectives for 2011:
1. Infinite Love Ministries will become a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Corporation.
2. Infinite Love Ministries will begin to earn money to build a reserve.
3. Infinite Love Ministries will establish screen process to begin to distribute funds to support literacy and medical needs locally.
First Quarter
• VP Dawn Ford to work for ministry full time, no salary
• Receive 501 (c) (3) Tax Exemption Status, allowing for grants and donations
• Marketing - Multi media- Blog, FB, Emails, Newsletters
• Create Data Base of Magazine requirements for Publishing
• Publish Articles for Christian/Relevant Magazines
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Create and Establish CD’s for purchases of Bible Teachings
• Annual Board Meeting
Second Quarter
• March 1st – VP Dawn Ford – Entered a fiction writing contest, made it to the top 30, will know if the manuscript won...grand prize- story to be published
• March 3-6 Florida Christian Writing Conference – Manuscript for a non-fiction bible study entered in competition...meetings with multiple publishing companies and literary agents.
• Continue Speaking
• Continue Marketing
• Continue Publishing Articles
• Board Meeting
Third Quarter
• Transition Base of Operation of Ministry to Santa Barbara California
• Establish Non-Profit Status in California
• Create Data Base of Local Churches
• Become Familiar with Local needs – literacy, medical and spiritual
• Create Data Base of Local Publications
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Board meeting
Fourth Quarter
• Establish Screen process to be fiscally responsible for distribution of funds
• Continue Speaking Engagements
• Continue Publishing
• Board meeting
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Where I Should have Started...At the Beginning
Who, what, where, when, why and how? To tell a story these are the basic questions that have to be answered. Fourth graders learn this. Unfortunately, it was a concept I must have missed because I’ve been asked several times this week, “What is Infinite Love Ministries and why would you even begin to take this on???” So forgive me for starting in the middle, but let me back up and explain my heart and what God placed in it.
The best way to sum it up is, it was born out of my love for God’s Word and God’s Girls.
I grew up in a religious home and knew all the “do’s and don’ts” of Christianity. I went to church every Sunday and let others tell me about God and the bible. I knew a lot of “stuff” about God and could even tell stories from the Old and New Testament. But the “god” I knew (little ‘g’ is on purpose), was small, didn’t really factor in my life and was only there to ‘zap’ me when I did something wrong. When a major life crisis came 13 years ago the “god” I knew couldn’t help me and I fell apart. I was convinced I did something to make God angry and when I couldn’t figure out what it was, I got angry. Really angry. I walked away from God. I wanted no part of him, or the people that followed him.
Praise God I had a smart Daddy and a dear Godly girlfriend who would not let me go. Slowly and lovingly they introduced me to the one true GOD. I began to heal and began to put the pieces together. Both of them encouraged me to read the Bible for myself. It totally changed every aspect of my life. I know now, to the core of my being, God truly wanted me to be healed and whole so I could serve and love others into His kingdom. He ROCKED MY WORLD. The more I studied and learned, the more I can’t keep it a secret.
I knew God had given me gifts and talents in the area of teaching and speaking but I had only used these in my career as a speech language pathologist. Six years ago, God presented an opportunity for me to speak at a women’s event and things took off from there.
Two years ago, I was in Myrtle Beach, praying in a little room, about to go on stage to speak, when God gave me this vision of His Girls bleeding in the pews. I kept hearing the words over and over again, “They know me, but they don’t KNOW me.” Event after event I kept meeting Christian women who looked great on the outside but where dying on the inside. They were with their girlfriends and having fun, but when they came to me to pray privately, they were broken, lost and hurt. They were not living in joy and had no idea how much God truly loved them. As I prayed about this, the idea for Infinite Love Ministries was born. The name comes from Ephesians 3:17-19,
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge.”
I believe God has put me on the Kingdom calendar at this time for one purpose; to let women know everywhere the infinite love of Christ and I’m starting with His Girls. I get the great commission, and believe in it. I also know and understand that the man is the head. But I believe with all my being, the woman is the heart. And if your heart is not healthy, the head and the rest of the body cannot function. God needs His Girls healthy to take on the full charge of being Titus 2 women and training other women up. I believe that once a woman understands God’s love, she is forever changed, and it’s absolutely contagious. Ultimately everyone around her is changed.
I believe in the full power and weight of the Word and believe in the one who is the Word. Through sound bible teaching, drama, prayer and God’s grace, I teach women the power of knowing God’s love in their lives. We are in phase one, getting the word out, developing materials, completing paperwork to get federal tax exemption services. We envision one day having our own published materials, hosting our own events and funding programs that support advancing the Kingdom, literacy and healthcare.
Thank you so much for taking time. Please pray for God’s continued guidance as we step out in faith, check out the website, become a fan of Facebook, tell your friends, pastors, women’s ministry leaders.
Love you all. Have an awesome day.
Dawn
The best way to sum it up is, it was born out of my love for God’s Word and God’s Girls.
I grew up in a religious home and knew all the “do’s and don’ts” of Christianity. I went to church every Sunday and let others tell me about God and the bible. I knew a lot of “stuff” about God and could even tell stories from the Old and New Testament. But the “god” I knew (little ‘g’ is on purpose), was small, didn’t really factor in my life and was only there to ‘zap’ me when I did something wrong. When a major life crisis came 13 years ago the “god” I knew couldn’t help me and I fell apart. I was convinced I did something to make God angry and when I couldn’t figure out what it was, I got angry. Really angry. I walked away from God. I wanted no part of him, or the people that followed him.
Praise God I had a smart Daddy and a dear Godly girlfriend who would not let me go. Slowly and lovingly they introduced me to the one true GOD. I began to heal and began to put the pieces together. Both of them encouraged me to read the Bible for myself. It totally changed every aspect of my life. I know now, to the core of my being, God truly wanted me to be healed and whole so I could serve and love others into His kingdom. He ROCKED MY WORLD. The more I studied and learned, the more I can’t keep it a secret.
I knew God had given me gifts and talents in the area of teaching and speaking but I had only used these in my career as a speech language pathologist. Six years ago, God presented an opportunity for me to speak at a women’s event and things took off from there.
Two years ago, I was in Myrtle Beach, praying in a little room, about to go on stage to speak, when God gave me this vision of His Girls bleeding in the pews. I kept hearing the words over and over again, “They know me, but they don’t KNOW me.” Event after event I kept meeting Christian women who looked great on the outside but where dying on the inside. They were with their girlfriends and having fun, but when they came to me to pray privately, they were broken, lost and hurt. They were not living in joy and had no idea how much God truly loved them. As I prayed about this, the idea for Infinite Love Ministries was born. The name comes from Ephesians 3:17-19,
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses all knowledge.”
I believe God has put me on the Kingdom calendar at this time for one purpose; to let women know everywhere the infinite love of Christ and I’m starting with His Girls. I get the great commission, and believe in it. I also know and understand that the man is the head. But I believe with all my being, the woman is the heart. And if your heart is not healthy, the head and the rest of the body cannot function. God needs His Girls healthy to take on the full charge of being Titus 2 women and training other women up. I believe that once a woman understands God’s love, she is forever changed, and it’s absolutely contagious. Ultimately everyone around her is changed.
I believe in the full power and weight of the Word and believe in the one who is the Word. Through sound bible teaching, drama, prayer and God’s grace, I teach women the power of knowing God’s love in their lives. We are in phase one, getting the word out, developing materials, completing paperwork to get federal tax exemption services. We envision one day having our own published materials, hosting our own events and funding programs that support advancing the Kingdom, literacy and healthcare.
Thank you so much for taking time. Please pray for God’s continued guidance as we step out in faith, check out the website, become a fan of Facebook, tell your friends, pastors, women’s ministry leaders.
Love you all. Have an awesome day.
Dawn
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Being a Shelter in the Storm
Why are we here? 
The only reason God does not take us up to heaven immediately when we make the commitment to be Christ followers is to stay here and do some good. Life as we all know, is very hard, and most of us feel we can't do much to change it. But we're wrong. Recent events in life have made me realize, even the little things make a huge difference.
In Isaiah 32:1-2, God reveals a powerful picture of what people who follow a righteous leader should look like:
"See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind, and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land."
Wow! Each man (and woman) should be a strong shelter, a place of refuge, a refreshing stream and a place of shade...OUCH! How many of us could say, this is our goal when we wake up in the morning? We are blessed, so we in turn should be a blessing.
Once Jesus arrives on the scene, Our King echoes the same message of love, compassion that Isaiah does. But what's our tendency? To spend way too much time condemning and tell others what they do wrong. The end result; we kill any opportunity to really show them God's love.
What is the one thing that is universal to all of us and makes us all part of the human race? PAIN! Yes, pain...we've all experienced it, we've all lived through it, we're all going to experience it again. Everyone of us wants to mean something, to do something beneficial. If we start looking for opportunities to help ease others pain, we become that refuge that God inspired Isaiah to speak of. We positively affect our sphere of influence and change lives one heart at a time.
How do we do this with everything else in our lives going on? Ask God to start to give you eyes that don't just look, but really see and ears that don't just hear, but really listen. I promise it won't take long before you will see people around you that need an encouraging word, a warm smile, hug or a moment of your time. It's really not as hard as it sounds and it can be done anywhere and any time. You don't need to be trained, schooled or know the bible like the back of your hand...all you need is to be in the moment and look for opportunities. The time is now. Take the challenge and make your goal to be a shelter in the storm and a cup of refreshing water. I also promise it will cause your life to be more purposeful and fulfilled.
Have an awesome day,
Dawn
The only reason God does not take us up to heaven immediately when we make the commitment to be Christ followers is to stay here and do some good. Life as we all know, is very hard, and most of us feel we can't do much to change it. But we're wrong. Recent events in life have made me realize, even the little things make a huge difference.In Isaiah 32:1-2, God reveals a powerful picture of what people who follow a righteous leader should look like:
"See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind, and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land."
Wow! Each man (and woman) should be a strong shelter, a place of refuge, a refreshing stream and a place of shade...OUCH! How many of us could say, this is our goal when we wake up in the morning? We are blessed, so we in turn should be a blessing.
Once Jesus arrives on the scene, Our King echoes the same message of love, compassion that Isaiah does. But what's our tendency? To spend way too much time condemning and tell others what they do wrong. The end result; we kill any opportunity to really show them God's love.
What is the one thing that is universal to all of us and makes us all part of the human race? PAIN! Yes, pain...we've all experienced it, we've all lived through it, we're all going to experience it again. Everyone of us wants to mean something, to do something beneficial. If we start looking for opportunities to help ease others pain, we become that refuge that God inspired Isaiah to speak of. We positively affect our sphere of influence and change lives one heart at a time.
How do we do this with everything else in our lives going on? Ask God to start to give you eyes that don't just look, but really see and ears that don't just hear, but really listen. I promise it won't take long before you will see people around you that need an encouraging word, a warm smile, hug or a moment of your time. It's really not as hard as it sounds and it can be done anywhere and any time. You don't need to be trained, schooled or know the bible like the back of your hand...all you need is to be in the moment and look for opportunities. The time is now. Take the challenge and make your goal to be a shelter in the storm and a cup of refreshing water. I also promise it will cause your life to be more purposeful and fulfilled.
Have an awesome day,
Dawn
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Start Up
Hello,
As we move forward with Infinite Love Minstries, we felt establishing a blog was important. This will be a source of inspiration, and information on the ministry. We hope you will enjoying following what God has planned as we step out in his name.
As we move forward with Infinite Love Minstries, we felt establishing a blog was important. This will be a source of inspiration, and information on the ministry. We hope you will enjoying following what God has planned as we step out in his name.
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