When did your life change?

Last Sunday Paul’s message was loud and clear.

Fathers, whatever you do, make sure that you tell your sons and daughters you love them and that you are proud of them.

In all sincerity, I must say my parents didn’t lack at all for those treasured words. “I love you” was spoken daily during my childhood and even now.

As a Christian, I would like to include an additional item to the list. This needs to be shared as many times as possible in our homes. 

It is our testimony.

That life change moment when you surrendered your life to Christ.

When did you last share your story with your family, friends or loved ones about when you received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you ever? Since Dallas received Christ this past year and was baptized he repeatedly asks me about my salvation experience.

“Grandma, when did you ask Jesus into your heart?”

“At seven, Dallas.”

“You were baptized at seven, just like me, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was Dallas.”

My greatest accomplishment would be that when I am no longer on this earth, my children would never have to worry or question about where their mom or grandma is spending eternity.

Dear Family, Friends, and loved ones,

I love you, I am proud of you and because I asked Jesus into my heart when I was seven years old at Cincinnati Avenue Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the end of a Revival service, I have a hope of eternal salvation in Jesus Christ my Lord!

My life changed when I was seven.

My prayer would be that you would have a life change as well.

Romans 10:9-10New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

 

Paul’s Mom-Patricia Brady Leake

on Mother’s Day of 2011

sharing her Life Change Testimony!

Patricia Brady Leake on Mother’s Day 2011 sharing her testimony

You Can Change a Lifetime for An Oklahoma Child

Working from home as a Foster Care Recruiter has its pros and cons.

Often I get a great deal more accomplished at home due to fewer interruptions. Then again, if something goes awry there isn’t someone in the next cubicle or down the hall to help me out. That’s when you will find me making a trip to the office to get help from co-workers or my supervisor.

Admittedly, when I do make these journeys to the office, my expectations are high. Usually I am overloaded with an extensive list of needs and wants. Thankfully my supervisor greets me with willingness to help and a smile.

These past few months though it seems more difficult to schedule time with my supervisor and co-workers. Often when I arrive at the office they are extremely busy on the phones trying to find homes for children who have been placed in emergency foster care. The need for foster care has increased dramatically in Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties in the past year.

This became crystal clear to me this week as I went to the office to review my list with my supervisor. As I passed the conference room, I noticed four young children playing. There were a couple of our workers watching over them.

My supervisor informed me that we were still not able to find placement for all of these children and it was 3:30 pm. My question was, “What are we going to do?”

She just looked at me and said, “We will stay here all night until we find a home for them.” My heart broke. They were all under the age of 7.

An office is not a place to spend the night!

 

As we continued to meet, I turned to see the youngest of the children round the corner. He was a little over a year old with blond curly hair. My heart melted and without hesitation my arms reached out to pull him into my lap. I told him that everything would be allright.

Just then a tiny tear began streaming down his sweet cheek. (Honestly, all I could think about was, what if this was one of my grandbabies!)Pulling him close to me, I began singing the best song I know to sing, “Jesus loves me.” Before long, that tender child was fast asleep in my arms right there in my supervisor’s office. My list was long forgotten. The most important part of my job was being accomplished.

 

Foster care affects hundreds of thousands of children and families and society as a whole. Child welfare issues arise in families of every race, ethnicity, culture, and age group. Children and youth are placed in foster care when their parents (or guardians) are no longer able to ensure their essential wellbeing. These young people need stable, loving care until they can either safely reunite with their families or establish other lifelong relationships with a nurturing adult.

May is National Foster Care Month.

You can change a lifetime for an Oklahoma child.

 

Please contact me if you would like more information about children who desperately need your help!

Teresa Brady at 405-481-0926.

The Heart of the Family

My heart has nearly broken this past year as I have watched several of my girlfriends lose their mothers to death. Such loss has made a significant bearing on their lives. Quite a few of my sweet friends are still having difficulty getting back into some manner of normalcy.

Mother’s are the heart of families and undeniably this nature of loss is tremendous.

With the approaching of Mother’s Day, my thoughts have turned to how I need to spend more time with my own mother. It seems in the ministry much of my time is spent with other women’s mothers, but often, I regret, my mother gets the leftovers. It is not intentional. It just happens more frequently than I plan.

My mother has always been my cheerleader in my ministry furthermore. She prefers to be in the background, cheering me on. Her kindness, graciousness, and giving is almost to a fault. She never complains. I need to watch more closely and be careful that I am not neglecting her. I never want to her to think that I could not drop what I am doing in a moment to be with her.

I clearly recall one Sunday morning last summer in the midst of my daughter Beth going through her chemo, when I received a phone call from my brother letting me know that my momma was in the hospital. My first thought was Lord, not momma! No, please do not let anything happen to her. Not now, I need her more than ever!

As I was attempting to continue to put my makeup on, the tears welled up in my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Running down the hall I declared to Paul that if anything happened to my momma at this point, he might just find me in sackcloth and ashes.

Consequently, here it is, the week before Mother’s Day.

My mom is once again in the hospital. My cheerleader is down.

 

Fortunately I’ve chosen not to sit down and cry out in sackcloth and ashes. That would not be beneficial to anyone. It’s not just about me needing my momma, she needs me! It’s time to get up and go see what I can do to bless my amazing mother who cheers me, gives to me and loves me unconditionally even when I forget to be with her as often as I should. I am so thankful for her. She is the heart of our family.

Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her

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Honest Prayers From Brave Women Day Six

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT.

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not. Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM FEELING BROKEN!

Friday, april 13, 2012

HONEST QUESTIONS

Betrayed-Lord, I have been betrayed by the people I trusted the most! How can I trust again?

Rejected-Society rejects me.  My family rejects me.  Are you rejecting me as well?

Ostracized-The divorce wasn’t even my choosing and now my friends never call.. Why?

Kept-So many secrets that were kept from me, now I am keeping secrets.  Will the secrets continue?

Everything I thought was normal is gone.  Will my life ever be normal again?

Need – Lord, I need You more than ever, are You there? Do you care about me and my mess?

 

Psalm 34:17-18New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
   he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
   and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 

HONEST PRAYERS

Dear Jesus, this has been a blessed week to sit at your feet asking the BRAVE and HONEST questions for me and on the behalf of other women.   Women who suffer from feeling worn out, from thorns, from feeling undisciplined, from fears and trembling, from feeling invisible and from feeling broken.   Lord, I know that You have already begun working in my life through Scripture and prayer.  Wounds are already being mended.  Hearts are beginning to heal.  Your Spirit is working and revealing your love to me in a new and fresh way.   I want this for all women this weekend!   As we come together tonight at Falls Creek, I am praying for an outpouring of Your Spirit to bring healing, cleansing and refreshment to each and every soul! 

 

 

 

Honest Prayers From Brave Women Day Five

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT.

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not. Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM FEELING INVISIBLE!

Thursday, April 12, 2011

HONEST QUESTIONS

Internally, I have a lot of resentment towards others…God help me.

Nobody really cares if I am around or not.  Why don’t they invite me to go with them?

Verbalize-Who really cares what I have to say? Are you listening Lord?

Ignored –I can be in a room filled with people and still be ignored.  What’s wrong with me?

Separated-Often I even feel as if I am separated from even You, God.

Invisible..Invisible..Invisible..People go by me, over me and right through me! Do you see me God?

Be nice.  Could someone just be nice to me? Lord, I could use a friend.

Looks-Why do I look like this?  I hate the way I look.  Is this why I seem invisible?

Embarrassed-I don’t feel like I fit in anywhere. Why am I so different?

 

Psalm 9:10Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁰And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity].

 

HONEST PRAYERS

Father, the Scripture says plainly that I am not invisible to You.  It says that I can be BRAVE and confidently put my trust in You.  People will disappoint me, but You never have.  Help me to seek your face and lean heavily on the authority of your Word. 

 

I am praying additionally for the many women that will be attending this weekend who feel invisible.  They may be coming for the first time to retreat.  They may be embarrassed about the sleeping arrangements, being out of their comfort zone or whatever.  Give them the ability to be BRAVE and HONEST before You.  I am praying they will know without a doubt that you see them and are there for them.  Help me to look for them as well and make sure that they don’t feel invisible.  Make me BRAVE enough to be your hands and feet this weekend.

Honest Prayers From Brave Women Day Four

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT.

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not. Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

 

 

 

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM TREMBLING AND FEAR!

Wednesday, April 11, 2011

HONEST QUESTIONS

Fear of rejection-What if people won’t accept the real me?

Even my own life doesn’t feel worth living.  What does the Bible say about suicide?

Afraid-I feel afraid, a lot! Why can I just trust You?

Reality-I am continually disappointed by it.  Why?

 

Philippians 4:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

 

Lord, I HONESTLY want to break this cycle of fear and trembling in my life.  I want to be BRAVE enough to get my act together.  How can I minister to my family and be the wife, mother, sister, daughter, or friend that I need to be when I am so full of fear?  I come to You Lord and ask for peace.  Today, I place my fears at your feet.  Give me the strength to trust You with them.

 

I place my family at your feet today, Oh, Lord!  As I am learning to surrender my fears and insecurities, I am realizing that I have to relinquish control.  I need to be more willing to “let go and let God” when it comes to my family.  Often, this is difficult for me and that is when I fall back into my fear and trembling state.  I commit to be BRAVE and HONEST as I place my spouse, my children, my future spouse, my friends, my parents, my extended family at the cross. Guard their hearts and minds from the Enemy who continues to pursue them.  Please continue to remind me that You are Bigger than he is!

Honest Prayers for Brave Women Day Three

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT.

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not. Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

 

 

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM BEING UNDISCIPLINED!

Tuesday, April 10, 2011

HONEST QUESTIONS

Untidy-That would be a nice word to say about the way I keep house.  Lord, is it really that important?

Needs-Needs vs. wants.  How do I balance that?

Drowning-We are drowning in debt! There seems to be no way out! Help!

Ignore-I seem to ignore or put off things the difficult things.  Why?

Struggle-There are days when I struggle to even get out of bed!  What is wrong with me?

Cope- I feel as if I cannot cope anymore.  When did I lose my coping mechanism?

Ice cream-Just love that stuff, the problem is…I may love it too much!  How can I regain self-control?

Preferences-I prefer to be lazy!  There I said it Lord!  Can you help me now?

Longing-I really do long to sit at your feet…Help me find some time.

Intentions-I have good intentions.  I don’t know what happens, distractions maybe?

Nights-I seem to be a night owl, which isn’t good for my family life.  Did you make me like this?

Entitled-Why do I think I deserve things or feel some sort of entitlement? Maybe I could blame my upbringing?

Desires-Why do I long for things that are not mine to have?

 

Romans 7:15-24New King James Version (NKJV) ¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

 

HONEST PRAYERS

I’m just BRAVE and HONEST to say that I would prefer not to pray about this one Father.   Basically, I feel like someone has peered into my space.  They have invaded my privacy.  How did they know my deepest desires?  How did they know my intentions, my  longings, my struggles?  Or maybe, just maybe they knew them because there are other women just like me who have them too?  Lord, I just feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I am already anticipating some BRAVE and HONEST answers to be found this weekend at the retreat.  I cannot wait! 

 

Dear Jesus, give Angela Thomas the wisdom to speak and live BRAVE!  Lord, you have brought her on a long journey to this platform where she can boldly say to women, “Be Brave and Be Honest before God.”  May the words that Kelly Minter brings to the ladies bring about restoration and a response to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a dark world!    We pray for Matt Roberson as he brings our worship music.   God bless Matt Roberson and his family as he travels leading men and women to the throne of God.  Thank you for the laughter that the Skit Guys and the Skitzy Chicks bring.  We are so excited to hear from You this weekend God!

 

Bless the awesome volunteers who make this retreat a place for women get to know You better.  We are so grateful for their willingness to serve the women of Oklahoma this weekend. Thank you for the Campers on Mission as well as other organizations who are volunteering. 

 

 

Honest Prayers From Brave Women Day Two

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT.

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted. Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming. I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not. Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

 

 

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM THORNS!

Monday, April 9, 2012

HONEST QUESTIONS

Tormented- Guilt and regret over past mistakes torment me daily. How can I ever forgive myself?

Honest-I can never be perfectly honest with my family. They will never accept my mistakes. Will God accept me?

Over and Over-Again and again, why do the same thorns continue to plague me?

Remove-I’ve asked You to remove this thorn Lord, why haven’t You?

Not willing-Why am I not willing to accept this thorn? 

Struggle-It’s a daily struggle!  I feel like giving up?  Why aren’t You helping me?

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 New International Version (NIV)

⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

HONEST PRAYERS

HONESTLY, Lord, this thorn (s) is killing me!  Enough is enough!  Maybe the Apostle Paul saw it as an asset but frankly, it’s weighing me down.  I need your strength.  I need your shelter.  Lord, today I declare, I am running to you for assurance that You will lift me up and give me strength!  I am BRAVE and HONEST enough to ask.  I know you are strong enough to take care of this.

 

Lord I come to you on behalf of my girlfriends as well.  I know they have thorns.  Some have told me.  Some of them have hidden them, just like me.  I am praying that this weekend, we would all be BRAVE and HONEST enough to boldly bring our thorny stuff to You!  I’m asking that by the end of this retreat that not one of us leaves thinking we can remove our thorns on our own power!

Honest Prayers From Brave Women Day One

For the past 3 years I have had the privilege of writing the PRAYER GUIDE FOR THE OKLAHOMA LADIES RETREAT. 

This year by the time I finished writing the guide I was physically, mentally and spiritually exhausted.  Just thinking about the many women who would be attending the retreat and the things that they might be going through was overwhelming.  I am so grateful that we have a Savior to whom we can be BOLD AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO PLACE EVERYTHING at His feet AND HE CAN HANDLE IT!

So for the next week…I would like to share this prayer guide with you.

Whether you are attending the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat or not.  Please follow along and let God move in your heart and show you how you can go to Him with your BRAVE AND HONEST QUESTIONS!

HONEST PRAYERS FROM BRAVE WOMEN

Psalm 107: 28-29 Amplified Bible (AMP)

 ²⁸Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses.²⁹He hushes the storm to calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still.

This year as you begin preparing, planning, and praying for the Oklahoma Ladies Retreat, the challenge is to be BRAVE enough to ask God the HONEST questions. This prayer guide will lead you to delve into areas that may have held you or women around you captive for years. As we pray through these HONEST questions, may God begin revealing His heart, His will, and His purpose for our lives.

 

 

 

BRAVE WOMEN SUFFERING FROM FEELING WORN OUT!

SUNDAY, APRIL 8, 2012

HONEST QUESTIONS

Worry- Why do I worry constantly?  My family, my job, our finances, our future, you name it! 

Overwhelmed- My schedule, it seems to never let up!  Lord, can you give me a break?

Responsibilities- I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders at times!  How can I let go of some of this?

Nothing-That’s what is going on with my spiritual life right now..a big fat nothing! Help!

 

Only You, God know how really tired I am!  I’m such a fake, this pace is killing me?

Unfair-Why can’t someone else do something around here? Life is so unfair.

Tired-That seems to be my middle name.  No, I think it’s my first name.  Is this the way I am supposed to feel?

Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG) ^28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

HONEST PRAYERS

Ok, Lord, I’ve been BRAVE and HONEST enough to let you know that I am completely WORN OUT!  Restore my sense of direction.  It seems as if I have lost sight of what matters.  I miss You Lord!   Today is Easter and I don’t want to ever, ever lose sight of what you did for me.  We embellish our crosses of today with rhinestones and pretty paint.  But your cross, oh, your cross was stained with blood, the blood that covered my sin.  It was not beautiful at all. God turned away from it!   When I feel so overwhelmed and worn out from the world’s calling on my life, help me to run toward You for answers.  

 

Lord, again this year we lift up Kelly King, our BGCO Women’s Specialist as well as her kind and generous assistant Kristin Harris.  Help them to be BRAVE as they make decisions that will affect the lives of women throughout our state and beyond.  Make our Ladies Retreat Team BRAVE and HONEST as they reflect on their own lives while also preparing for the retreat.  Help them not to get too WORN OUT! Thank you for the men and women who work at the Falls Creek Conference Center.  More and more lives are changed every year because they are BRAVE enough to allow God to use them.  

 

Man on the Cross

First Baptist Newalla has started what I believe to be a new custom.

Each year on “Good Friday” our men are taking turns standing on a cross on Harrah Newalla road. They wear a white robe, put on a grapevine crown, and stand with their arms fastened with ropes, outstretched for thirty minutes to a wooden cross.

While thirty minutes doesn’t seem like a lengthy time in relation to each of our days, it can be a tremendous time of reflection for these men. It furthermore serves as a great reminder to these men’s families as well as the people traveling up and down Harrah Newalla road.

Why would a man who could do numerous other things on “Good Friday” stand on a cross? Why would he be willing to stand in the sun or even rain? Why would he be willing to be mocked, laughed at, or even belittled?

I know the reason why.

Because thirty minutes does not even compare to what Jesus did for these men.

Jesus was sneered at and ridiculed. He was persecuted and falsely judged.

He didn’t wear a white robe. He was naked, stripped and beaten practically beyond recognition.

He didn’t wear a grapevine crown. His crown was made of huge thorns, thrust into his head that made him bleed down his face and neck.

His arms weren’t just outstretched. They were yanked into place and spikes were nailed into his wrists in order to hold him to the cross.

Jesus didn’t stand on a cross. He hung on a cross. His feet were nailed in place by large spikes. Every time He had to breathe, He had to lift himself up off of those nail pierced feet. Every breath was painful.

Jesus didn’t hang on that cross for thirty minutes. He hung for nearly six hours.

After thirty minutes of standing on the cross, many of our men say they will never be the same again. It changes them.

After six hours of hanging on the cross, Jesus’ blood sacrifice allows us to never be the same again.

We are called to tell the world about a man who hung on the cross for each of us. Every day we can stand on that cross for Jesus. We don’t have to wait until “Good Friday.”

Isaiah 53:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.