August & September ePrayer
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to intercede for the ministries of Beauty From Ashes™. I truly believe the Lord responds and acts as His children come before Him, so every prayer you say on behalf of Beauty From Ashes™ does make a difference!
This month is unique in that I'm combining both our August and September ePrayer. As you may be aware, I will be graduating this Sunday, August 4th, with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Florida Gulf Coast University. It is an accomplishment that was most definitely a Divine Intervention. One that I've labored at for 3 1/2 years, which was totally paid for, and that I have no doubt was in God's perfect will for me and BFA. It enabled me to raise the standard of professionalism in all levels for BFA and assist other ministries in becoming more professional in the delivery of their services. However, working full time and attending school full time, year round, has been extremely challenging. My graduate school scripture was most definitely, Phillipians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." And it is only by His divine grace and supernatural power that I will be graduating with a 4.0 overall GPA. Still a little unbelievable to me. To Him be ALL the glory for the great things He has done!
Approximately 9 months ago, I believe God inspired me to commit to taking a 4 week, mini-sabbatical after I graduated. I believe I am to rest and seek His will for my life, and His ministry, Beauty From Ashes™ during this time. He has exceedingly and abundantly, done so much beyond what I could ask for, imagine, or dream in the past 11 years with my life and Beauty From Ashes™, especially in the past 4 years, I want to make sure I am faithful and pursuing His purpose and plans for BFA as I complete this season and enter into the next. I also am in need of rest, something that, although I have learned to develop and maintain balance, self care, and boundaries to a greater degree than I ever have, is still a task for me. God wired me to be a high energy, fast thinking, multi-tasker, and slowing down is a huge challenge . . . being real.
As a result of that high energy and my education as a professional helper, over the past 2-3 years, God opened doors in the development of programs and a model of operations with BFA that I did not see coming and am absolutely thrilled over, but I want to make sure the direction is His. I truly believe that He has entrusted me with BFA and I long only to be faithful to His call to lead the organization. Not my will, but His be done.
So with that said, I am asking that you lift me up during the next two months as I pursue rest and seek His will for my life and the ministries of Beauty From Ashes™. Our second round of Horse and Art Camp will be August 12-16 and I plan on taking a sabbatical August 17 - September 17.
Would you agree in prayer for God to affirm and confirm the programs and ministries of Beauty From Ashes™ during this time? Pray that I stay focused on Him, am willing to lay down my plans and accept His, and am refreshed and renewed spiritually during this time. Pray I rest, be still, and wait upon Him during this time. Please pray that He returns to me a hunger and thirst for His Word and that I remain faithful in pursuing His heart during this time period. Pray the fire is re-ignited in my heart and that I am willing to do whatever He wants me to do, go wherever He wants me to go, and say whatever He wants me to say.
Please also, during this time, pray for the following:
CLIENTS: Pray they receive revelation of God's love for them and commit to the healing process. Agree with me that our client base be according to His will and for clarification of the scope of clients we will serve.
OUTREACHES: Thank God for His continued favor in outREACHes happening locally, across the nation, and in other countries every month. Pray for the outREACHes and teams as they continue taking His light into dark places.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES: Please pray I receive clear direction and the strategic plan regarding the programs and services BFA will provide as we enter the fall season and into the year 2014.
CURRENT NEEDS: Thank God that all our needs are met according to His will. CLICK HERE for the entire list of our needs.
EQUINE FACILITY: Pray for the health of the horses. Summer is a challenging time in the tropics for horses due to the heat, humidity, rain, flies, and bugs.
FUNDING: Thank God that He is our Provider and for His people that co-labor with Him financially to support BFA.
PARTNERSHIPS: Thank God for existing, new, and future partnerships.
EVENTS: Pray we only engage in the events that are of God's perfect will.
VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS: Thank God for an amazing pool of volunteers and interns! Pray God blesses them for their faithfulness to BFA, protects them, and provides abundantly for them. Pray their personal relationships with Christ become more intimate.
STAFF: Pray God's perfect will be done regarding the staff of BFA.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS: Pray for them and that God would raise up directors who will be faithful to His call to direct and govern the ministries of BFA according to God's agenda, not their own.
OTHER LIKE MINISTRIES/AGENCIES: Pray for protection in all areas; that strong boundaries exist and every bit of our work is driven by Biblical priorities. Pray, too, for the families and friends of all involved in ministry, and that leadership are disciples of Christ making disciples.
WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER: Please continue to pray corporately from wherever you are each Friday from 8-9am EST to intercede for victims of sexual exploitation, sex slavery, & sex trafficking, as well as the agencies servicing them. CLICK HERE for Prayer Guide.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Send us your prayer requests by CLICKING HERE.
MONTHLY ePRAYER SIGN UP: CLICK HERE
BFA eNEWSLETTER: CLICK HERE to view our latest eNews and sign up to receive them in the future. (Please note: Our July / August eNewsletter will be sent out next week).
Approximately 9 months ago, I believe God inspired me to commit to taking a 4 week, mini-sabbatical after I graduated. I believe I am to rest and seek His will for my life, and His ministry, Beauty From Ashes™ during this time. He has exceedingly and abundantly, done so much beyond what I could ask for, imagine, or dream in the past 11 years with my life and Beauty From Ashes™, especially in the past 4 years, I want to make sure I am faithful and pursuing His purpose and plans for BFA as I complete this season and enter into the next. I also am in need of rest, something that, although I have learned to develop and maintain balance, self care, and boundaries to a greater degree than I ever have, is still a task for me. God wired me to be a high energy, fast thinking, multi-tasker, and slowing down is a huge challenge . . . being real.
As a result of that high energy and my education as a professional helper, over the past 2-3 years, God opened doors in the development of programs and a model of operations with BFA that I did not see coming and am absolutely thrilled over, but I want to make sure the direction is His. I truly believe that He has entrusted me with BFA and I long only to be faithful to His call to lead the organization. Not my will, but His be done.
So with that said, I am asking that you lift me up during the next two months as I pursue rest and seek His will for my life and the ministries of Beauty From Ashes™. Our second round of Horse and Art Camp will be August 12-16 and I plan on taking a sabbatical August 17 - September 17.
Would you agree in prayer for God to affirm and confirm the programs and ministries of Beauty From Ashes™ during this time? Pray that I stay focused on Him, am willing to lay down my plans and accept His, and am refreshed and renewed spiritually during this time. Pray I rest, be still, and wait upon Him during this time. Please pray that He returns to me a hunger and thirst for His Word and that I remain faithful in pursuing His heart during this time period. Pray the fire is re-ignited in my heart and that I am willing to do whatever He wants me to do, go wherever He wants me to go, and say whatever He wants me to say.
Please also, during this time, pray for the following:
CLIENTS: Pray they receive revelation of God's love for them and commit to the healing process. Agree with me that our client base be according to His will and for clarification of the scope of clients we will serve.
OUTREACHES: Thank God for His continued favor in outREACHes happening locally, across the nation, and in other countries every month. Pray for the outREACHes and teams as they continue taking His light into dark places.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES: Please pray I receive clear direction and the strategic plan regarding the programs and services BFA will provide as we enter the fall season and into the year 2014.
CURRENT NEEDS: Thank God that all our needs are met according to His will. CLICK HERE for the entire list of our needs.
EQUINE FACILITY: Pray for the health of the horses. Summer is a challenging time in the tropics for horses due to the heat, humidity, rain, flies, and bugs.
FUNDING: Thank God that He is our Provider and for His people that co-labor with Him financially to support BFA.
PARTNERSHIPS: Thank God for existing, new, and future partnerships.
EVENTS: Pray we only engage in the events that are of God's perfect will.
VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS: Thank God for an amazing pool of volunteers and interns! Pray God blesses them for their faithfulness to BFA, protects them, and provides abundantly for them. Pray their personal relationships with Christ become more intimate.
STAFF: Pray God's perfect will be done regarding the staff of BFA.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & ADVISORS: Pray for them and that God would raise up directors who will be faithful to His call to direct and govern the ministries of BFA according to God's agenda, not their own.
OTHER LIKE MINISTRIES/AGENCIES: Pray for protection in all areas; that strong boundaries exist and every bit of our work is driven by Biblical priorities. Pray, too, for the families and friends of all involved in ministry, and that leadership are disciples of Christ making disciples.
WEEKLY GLOBAL PRAYER: Please continue to pray corporately from wherever you are each Friday from 8-9am EST to intercede for victims of sexual exploitation, sex slavery, & sex trafficking, as well as the agencies servicing them. CLICK HERE for Prayer Guide.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Send us your prayer requests by CLICKING HERE.
MONTHLY ePRAYER SIGN UP: CLICK HERE
BFA eNEWSLETTER: CLICK HERE to view our latest eNews and sign up to receive them in the future. (Please note: Our July / August eNewsletter will be sent out next week).
Thank you for your prayer support of Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries. It is and has been absolutely vital to the development and sustainability of the programs and services we have provided since 2005. It has been critical to my own personal healing and development journey. I am excited about the new season of BFA, whatever it looks like, because I know God has good plans to prosper, and a future for myself and His ministry. Thank you in advance for praying for me during my sabbatical. I look forward to sharing with you what God confirms, affirms, and reveals during this time of rest and seeking Him.
Finally, I will close with two quotes. The first is from Priscilla Shirer's Bible study, Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted, "Our significance, at least the kind that will leave an eternal mark, can only be found in how fully we yield to God's purposes for our lives." The second, from Isaiah 40:31, the Amplified version, reads, "But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired."
Finally, I will close with two quotes. The first is from Priscilla Shirer's Bible study, Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted, "Our significance, at least the kind that will leave an eternal mark, can only be found in how fully we yield to God's purposes for our lives." The second, from Isaiah 40:31, the Amplified version, reads, "But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired."
Expecting, looking for & hoping in Him,
Founder & President
Beauty From Ashes™ Ministries
Where Victims Become Over-Comers
"Survivors must be leaders in the development of services, shelter, and response protocols to s*x trafficking.”
- National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking
- National Report on Domestic Minor S*x Trafficking
AWARENESS & PREVENTION • REACH & RESCUE • TEACH & DEMONSTRATE • TRAIN & SEND
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| (239) 939-9218 | TOLL FREE LINE: 877 4BFA SOS (877) 423-2767 MAILING ADRESS: 13300 South Cleveland Avenue, Suite 56-623 | Fort Myers | FL | 33907 | USA www.BeautyFromAshes.org |
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