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Countdown to Luke ~ Equipping you to lead…

Good Morning Girls!!  We are on the countdown, ladies: just ONE short week away from kicking off our Winter Study Session: Living Like Jesus {Luke 1-8}!  The GMG Facebook page and Message Board are buzzing with all kinds of energy and excitement as we welcome new GMG, answer your questions, and encourage leaders as you prepare!  This week our goal is to keep that excitement building, while equipping you every day with some helpful information as we get ready to dive into God’s Word together!
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Have you ever considered leading a GMG group, but just needed that extra nudge of encouragement?
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Then today’s guest post is for you!  Read on as Shonda, our Leadership Encourager, shares about her experience as a GMG leader, and explains how GMG is in the business of encouraging and equipping GMG just like YOU to become leaders too!
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“Hello, my name is Shonda and I am part of the GMG Leadership Team.  Let me share my story with you.  Two years ago I was pregnant with my second child.  I was craving a Bible study that would help me dig deep into God’s Word and one where I wouldn’t have to leave my house.  I kept seeing Courtney from Women Living Well post about Good Morning Girls.  The day I took a peek was the day they revealed the new study for January- the book of James!  I was intrigued that Courtney said we would be writing out the whole book during the course of the study.  I found a group through the Message Board, and before I knew it, I stumbled upon an opportunity to lead the group!  I have led our group through several Good Morning Girls studies since then.  Though group dynamics are ever changing, the studies have been wonderful, and with God’s help, I feel stronger and more confident about leading these girls with each new GMG study.”

 

{Shonda’s GMG group from the Proverbs 31 study}

 

“God knew I needed Him to help me lead, and God continues to be faithful!  Last year, Angela opened up a Good Morning Girls Leadership Group on Facebook.  I joined, and by the Fall, the leadership group had grown so big, Angela asked me to help lead it!  Wow, I was so amazed at how God kept challenging me to step up in my role as a leader.  So, now I still lead my own GMG group, and I also help the leaders organize their groups and answer questions.  It’s a joy and delight to work with so many awesome women of God.  I have developed some great friendships and grown in my walk with God all because I was willing to take steps of faith.”

 

 

WHAT IS A LEADER?

A leader is someone who is willing to serve.  God can use YOU in a mighty way if you are just open to his calling.  There are so many women who want to study the Bible with Good Morning Girls, but they need a guide.  A leader is not someone who is a Biblical scholar, but someone who is passionate about God.  A leader is interested in the seeking to draw women out and encourage them to pursue God.  A leader is prayerful and sacrificial.  A leader listens to God and is a life-giver.  Does this describe you?  Are you open to step out in faith and lead a group?  If you are unsure, please pray and read about all the ways you do not have to do this alone!  We are a team!

 

 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said,

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last,

and the servant of all.”

~Mark 9:35

 

 

BENEFITS OF THE GMG FACEBOOK LEADERSHIP GROUP:

Here’s what our leaders are saying about the GMG Leadership group on Facebook… we know you’ll be encouraged!

 

“The leader’s group is a life saver!  All the helpful hints, getting
the scripture pictures to post ahead of time… AWESOME!! When I led my
first group, I was so nervous, but the support here is tremendous!!!  I think
all active leaders should be in this group! Thank you for this group!!!”  ~Martha

“If it weren’t for this Leader’s Group, I would have given up before I even got started. I like that I can come here at any time and get information, encouragement and answers. Being a part of this group has given me the courage and inspiration to go on.”  ~Cindy

“The leader group has wonderful women to quickly answer any and all
questions I have. It has great ideas and fun tips for your group along
with pictures to post that grab your group members’
attention. My group wouldn’t be nearly as successful if I hadn’t joined the
leadership group.” ~Nikki

“I love all the extra information for leaders, and with your guidance, I really sounded like I knew what I was doing! : ) The ladies in my group were truly moved by the study and it brought us all closer together and most importantly, closer to God.”  ~Lindsay


“This group is kind of a springboard for positive encouragement.  As I
am encouraged here, it bounces to my group and from those individuals on
to others and so on!! I would absolutely recommend this group as a new
leader!!” ~Stephanie

 

WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE LEADER GROUP AND HOW CAN I GET CONNECTED?

There is so much we offer in the Facebook leadership group as you see above, such as prayer, answering questions, special photos to share with your group, encouragement, fun and SO much more!

Get connected today by sending me a message if you are leading a GMG group:

Facebook: Shonda Knowlton

Email: shondaet@gmail.com

 

Seeking Him First, Shonda

 

 

Shonda is a former Kindergarten teacher and now a SAHM mom. She is happy, healthy and loves God with all her heart.

Shonda’s blogs:
The Knowlton Nest
Milk N’ Honey Learn and Grow

Teaching Our Girls About…Prince Charming

 

This past spring I went to Disneyland with my husband and 3 daughters who are six, four and almost one. My two older girls are at the age where they love Cinderella, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, so of course our Disney trip focused around the princess characters.

As little girls, we dream of our Prince Charming. Who is he? Where does he live? What is he like? We love to watch movies like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty where the prince saves the princesses from either a bad home environment or a terrible situation. Isn’t that what we still expect out of our Prince Charming? We expect him to save us and make our life perfect so we can “live happily ever after.”

Join me at Roomag as I discuss what I’m teaching my girls about “Prince Charming.”

 

Love God Greatly!

 

 

 

 

 

Setting Fall Goals: Letting go of the past….embracing the future

 

I love Philippians 3:13-14 because when I read those verses I get inspired.

Pressing on toward the goal….

To win a prize…

Forgetting what is behind…

Straining toward what is ahead.

Forgetting what is behind. Why are we called to forget? Because we have been forgiven for our past sins. We have to believe, if we repented and asked forgiveness, Jesus has granted us the forgiveness we were needing. Let go of the guilt!!! If we don’t, we are holding onto baggage that will hurt our “race.” Jesus has forgiven us, have faith in that knowledge and freedom. As Jesus forgives us, so should we forgive ourselves. If we don’t we are only hurting ourselves and not being obedient to Christ.

 

Join me today at Roomag where I share on the importance of letting go of the past and embracing what God has for your future!

 

What are some of your goals for this coming fall?

Love God Greatly!

It’s okay to be imperfect….

 

 

It’s okay to be imperfect.

Some days I have to remind myself that, over and over again….. “it’s okay…..”

Much of our society these days makes us feel like we as women, moms, daughters….even little girls…..need to portray an image of perfection.

We have our media to thank for that.

We can’t turn on the TV or read a magazine in line at the grocery store without being told that through the photoshopped advertisements, articles and commercials.

Sometimes we even have ourselves to thank for that….

But I am not a perfect woman.

I am not a perfect wife.

And I’m most definitely not a perfect mom.

I struggle against my own expectations and those I feel put on by others and society in general.

I struggle against my feelings of just not being “enough..”

Join me today at Mom Heart where I discuss the freedom we have in Christ from having to be perfect! I’d LOVE to hear how you pass this freedom onto your children!

 

Love God Greatly!

 

 

{Guest Post} Our Spiritual Clothing…from Mandy @Biblical Homemaking

Today I’m so excited to have Mandy, from Biblical Homemaking, on Good Morning Girls sharing with us her wonderful words of wisdom! I had the wonderful opportunity to meet her this past February when we both attended the Sally Clarkson conference in Dallas, Texas!!! If you haven’t checked out her blog, please do! You won’t be disappointed! I love her budget friendly decorating ideas, adorable outfit selections, healthy recipes and so much more! Please welcome my sweet friend, Mandy to GMG!!
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Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 
Proverbs 31:25
{here’s my $1 thrifted scarf- l love it!}

I have to confess: ever since I was little, I’ve loved getting dressed. At all of 5 years old, I was coordinating and changing outfits, sometimes multiple times per day. I’m sure my mom just loved that. :)

But even as an adult, putting outfits together makes me smile like crazy. I love to pair just the right shoes with my $6 thrifted dress, or add just the right finishing touch with a $1 scarf. For some of us, getting dressed is just fun, isn’t it?

Clothing is such a significant part of a woman’s life. As women, we buy it, we make it, we wash it, we fold it, and then we dress ourselves and our little ones {and sometimes even our husbands! right?} each day with it.Every single day our family members need clothes, and it’s our job to make sure they are wearing them.

I find it so interesting that clothing is mentioned twice in the verses about a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. I think it’s because we as women were designed to help provide clothing for our husbands and children. In fact, our Father does the very same for His own children!

God has provided us not only with the means to clothe our bodies each day, but even better, He has also clothed us spiritually! And our outward “clothing” is also an expression of who we are in Him.

You see, the dignity and strength that the Proverbs 31 woman wears doesn’t come from her own ability- it was given to her by her heavenly Father.

Just as her physical, daily clothing comes from Him, her spiritual clothing comes from Him as well. And her “clothing” is her salvation found in the Lord!

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10

Her salvation is what brings her strength, and knowing who she is in Christ makes her stand with dignity! She is wearing the most beautiful robe of righteousness- the most amazing piece of clothing she could ever wear!

Isn’t that amazing?

She can stand tall because she is not wearing her own righteousness. Instead she’s robed with the most beautiful gift she’s ever been given: her salvation.

And what does it bring her?

Joy.

Breathtaking, amazing joy.

She is forgiven!

Forgiven. Free from her past.  And she can’t worry about the future, because her God knows all things.

She can even laugh at the times to come. Because no one- no situation- can possibly keep her from the love of Christ.

Oh, the joy of serving the God over all things. His love knows no bounds!

And He works all things for the good of those who believe in Him:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

She can rejoice in her God, who loves her and holds her future! Isn’t that amazing?

We can laugh at the times to come because knowing Him brings joy to our hearts- when we walk in Him, we can trust in the His strength to guide us through the future.

His strength, His dignity, becomes our own. It’s the very essence of grace- God giving us this beautiful, holy clothing that we don’t deserve!

Dear friends, if you are feeling weak- if you are feeling ashamed of where you are or where you’ve been, know that you can cry out to Him- He will bring you strength! He brings you freedom from shame, freedom from your sin, when you cry out to Him for help!

Oh, how He longs to clothe you in the white robe of righteousness that you may smile- even rejoice- at what is to come. He hold all things, and He loves you!

When you go to your closet each morning, remember there is more to this life than just this physical clothing. Ask Him to clothe you all day long with dignity and strength so that you may rejoice in Him.

And then, my sweet sister- laugh at the day to come.

{download the 8×10 printable here}
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Mandy is a daughter of the King, the wife of one very wonderful man, and the homeschooling mama of 4 little ones under 9 years old.  She is passionate about loving Jesus and serving Him in the most challenging and rewarding job she’s ever been given: everyday life as a wife and mom.  In her “free” time, she loves to shop at thrift stores, teach kickboxing and weight lifting classes, create new raw food recipes, and work on DIY projects around her 117-year-old home. You can find Mandy writing each week about faith, family, fitness, food, fashion, and more at Biblical Homemaking.

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