Ribbons of God's Love: A Valentine's Dream Guest Blogger: Nicole

I came awake this morning long before my alarm was to go off and in
the middle of a great dream. I lay there desperately trying to not
only get a few more zzzz's but to also try and get the dream back, as
it was not only wonderful but I was right at the good part. After a
few minutes of futility, I reluctantly got out of bed to start my day
while continually running the dream through my head. There was a man
with his arms extended towards me, palms up. He was dressed all in
white and his arms were bare. His face was fuzzy, but I could see the
emotions as they played across his face. On top of his extended arms
were these beautiful white, glowing ribbons that draped over both his
arms and down to his feet. He asked me, without speaking, if I wanted
them. I immediately felt a childlike glee and a huge grin came across
my face. I said, "For me?? Really??" He didn't say a word, but I
could see the a look on his face that said, "Of course, they were
always for you." I looked down at the multiple ribbons in my right
hand and noticed that they were all frayed and torn and turning gray
around the edges. I immediately let go of the ribbons in my hand and
reached for the ribbons offered by the man. Before I could actually
grasp them, I woke up.

After about 20 minutes of pondering this dream, I had a revelation.
That man was God and those ribbons are the NEW RIBBONS OF MY LIFE!!
Always there, always waiting for me, it was just up to me to take hold
of them! I woke up before I could grasp them in my dream, because God
wants me to grasp those ribbons with my waking mind and heart. THANK
YOU GOD for changing my heart, so that I can now take hold of those
beautiful, gleaming, clean white ribbons you have for my life.

Can we imagine??? Guest Blogger: SuperPurple Alison

2 Corinthians 5:5-6 (The Message)
We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less. That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead.

I LOVE this translation of this passage! God has given us the Holy
Spirit as a promise to us of what we have to look forward to, and to
show us why we should want to live by His standards, not the world's,
by giving us a small sample of heaven.

As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of the song by Mercy Me,
"I Can Only Imagine." Now I'm going to have it stuck in my head all
afternoon! :)

This passage is incredibly inspiring to me, especially the part about
not being willing to settle for less. This applies to not only my
longing for eternal life in heaven, but also to all of my hopes and
dreams while on earth. I am my Father's daughter and He wants only the best for me. Why should I settle for less than what I want? The world may try to discourage me but the world is not my authority. I
have the Holy Spirit to help guide me on my journey, and though I may
face disappointments and failures, I have faith that better days lie ahead because this is what He has promised me and God always fulfills what He promises.

2009: Pick a promise! Guest Blogger: SuperPurpleLaura

Take a minute to count your blessings ladies! Thank God....for every good and precious gift comes from above!!!

Joshua 14:11
[Caleb said,] "I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then."

Wow. When Caleb said this to Joshua, the leader of all of Israel, he was 85 yrs. old. And he was claiming the promise that God gave to him 40 yrs before that, and he was willing to go to battle to CLAIM that promise. (The promise was a huge, prime piece of land in Canaan.)

Are you willing to go to battle to CLAIM the promises of God? I AM!!!!

Here's how: Pick a promise verse from the Bible (there are hundreds) that supports one of your goals, and ask God for a revelation of that promise for your life. Share it with your leader. Then pray over that promise, claiming it for yourself. Be open to what God wants you to DO in order to receive it--not that you are earning it, but that you are willing to get to the place in your life to be able to receive it.

Make 2009 the year God's promises come to fruition in YOUR LIFE!