NEWS FROM THE POTTER

NEWS FROM THE POTTER'S HOUSE FOR WOMEN

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010

BABY FOOD OR A SWORD?

The harder the soil, the sharper must be the plow! The harder the rock, the harder must be the hammer blows! Likewise, the harder the spiritual soil of a person's heart, the sharper must be the Word of God in their lives and the harder must the "hammer" of God's Word hit the stony places!

However, in our day, we have dulled the plow and softened the hammer blows! We are so afraid of offending folks that we have watered down God's Word until it has no more effect on listening ears than a plastic knife does on a piece of steel!

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm about sick of sticking spritual pacifiers in folks' mouths, treating them like spoiled babies, and patting them on the back as if everything will be OK. It's not going to be OK. I should be more concerned about offending a holy God than I am about offending sinful man! Why in the world am I worried about offending them? Can I send them any further away than they are already going? After all, there's not a second or a third hell!

It's high time we Christians quit mealy-mouthing, mamby-pambying around and instead start wielding the two-edged sword of the Word of God because hearts today are as hard as steel! It's high time we start preaching hell and judgment again along with the love of God...and leave the results up to God. If people are offended by the preaching of the Word, that won't be anything new. Paul and Silas, Peter, James and hundreds of others down through the years have been put in jail for preaching....not the watered down pabulum that's being regurgitated from many pulpits...but the plain, unadulterated truth of the precious holy Word of God.

Let's get busy, Christians! There's a lost world out there that needs the Jesus of the Bible!

On Saturday, 9/11, there will be a conference held at Abundant Life in Jackson. The Lord laid this conference on Dara's heart last year. Dara was the housemother at the P.H. for two years. There will be testimonies, praise and worship, interpretive dance, etc. It is going to be an awesome meeting. We are expecting many to be saved, homes to be restored, and Christians refreshed. Please make your plans to attend. I will give more information and directions to the church next week.

Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010

OFF THE DEEP END!

It must be awfully grueling at times. There are long, tiring, hot hours of training and practice. It takes total dedication and commitment, regardless of the circumstances. Even in pain, they must go on. They have to lay aside the desires and pleasures of their flesh, else they wouldn't have a chance.

Often, they must even be away from their families, sometimes for days at a time. They can't decide to stay home just because Grandma comes for a visit or Uncle Joe is having his 70th birthday party. They must keep their minds on the task before them and their bodies in shape, not allowing any outside interferences to hinder them. Many people are counting on them and they certainly wouldn't want to let anybody down, especially themselves!

For, you see, they are training for the Olympics! Their eyes are on the gold medal! And they will do whatever it takes to win this earthly medal. Everyone thinks they are the greatest. People look up to them for their consistent dedication and commitment. Many even hold them up as role models for the youth.

However, if a person exhibits the same degree of dedication and loyalty to Jesus Christ, everyone says he is a fanatic and has gone off the deep end! Just let a Christian spend long, tiring hours in ministering to others and folks will rant and rave and say he has lost his mind. Just let a Christian be totally committed, no matter how painful the circumstances, and watch the eyebrows raise and the tongues wag! And, it would be totally unforgivable to miss Grandma's visit or Uncle Joe's birthday in lieu of reaching lost souls for Christ. You'd think the Christian should be tried and hanged for treason for such atrocious behavior!

Don't you find it strange, dear one, that an Olympic trainer would be commended for being totally committed, yet a Christian would be condemned? The Olympian is only playing a game for this life....the Christian is waging a war for the eternal souls of men and women, boys and girls. One's a game; the other is war. So, which do you think has the most urgent need of its participants being "off the deep end" in total commitment?

.....Brandie's husband, Clay, got saved a couple of Sundays ago. We are praying that their home will be restored and will become a Godly home from now on.

.....Melissa, Melinda's twin sister, will be getting released from jail soon and is planning on coming to the P.H. It will be a wonderful thing to see twins reunited and become Godly sisters.

.....Misty has had a meeting with DFACS and had to go to court for her children. The Lord has worked everything in her favor and she will be able to get her children back when she finishes the P.H. program.

.....Many of our girls are getting powerful answers to prayer. We are learning to pray more and seek God before we try to do things ourselves. We have had some awesome answers lately, answers to personal things that we have prayed about rather than confronted....and God came through in amazing ways! We want our home to become a house of prayer.

Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010

IHP TRAVEL AGENCY

Step right up, folks! I have some great news! I am part of the IHP Travel Agency and boy do I have an exciting vacation spot to offer you today! Some of you look like you could use a nice vacation, as I see worry and trouble all over your countenance. Others appear very discouraged and depressed and weary. Some of you are even at the point of just plain giving up. Oh, I have just the perfect spot for you! The IHP Travel Agency has never let anyone down yet. We've never had one dissatisfied customer.

Perhaps you've never been anywhere like this place I'm going to offer you, so just let me fill you in on some of the benefits it provides. There is an answer here for every problem you could ever face. Also, you'll find joy unspeakable at this resort spot. Oh, yes, and there's peace that passes all understanding and pleasures forevermore. And perhaps even greater than that, it is absolutely impossible to worry in this place...not even a hint of worry. So, are you interested yet?

No, I'm not talking about heaven either. I'm talking about a place you can really go right here and right now. You'll probably find this hard to believe, but we at the IHP Travel Agency are offering you a trip to this resort area completely free. We've never had to put out a "No Vacancy" sign. It's impossible to overbook. This resort is also very easily accessible and you can go any time you choose, day or night, 365 days a year. So, what will it be for you?

Oh, I see. You're wondering what the catch is, huh? There's not one! You don't have to sign anything, promise anything, or pay anything. The only thing holding you back from going is your own desire. As long as you really want to go and are entirely willing, nothing in this world can stop you! Sound good to you?

That's great! You won't be sorry! First, you must turn off all outside interference and get alone in a place where you'll be undisturbed. Take your Bible with you. Get down on your knees, confessing every known sin in your life, claiming I John 1:9. Begin praising, adoring and thanking God for everything. Give Him total control of your life. Let go and let God! Miraculously you'll find yourself transported from here to glory. You'll be IHP---In His Presence! It will be the most exciting, most wonderful, most awesome place you've ever visited. And, I have a feeling that you will be consulting the IHP Travel Agency on a regular basis from now on!

Some of you are wondering about the Thrift Store. We still haven't had anyone come along that wants to take this as their ministry and be completely responsible for it. We have everything necessary to start a thrift store, even the building, but we are waiting on God to send the person to operate it. If it's God's will, He will send someone...and if not, He won't! Either way, we are happy, because we only want God's will and that's all! It must be God's will and God's timing! Its all up to Him!

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010

YOU CAN'T FOOL GOD!
By Cherrie Burdeshaw

What a tangled web you weave,
When your own self you deceive.
You can fool the folks you love,
But you can't fool the Lord above.
He sees down deep inside your heart,
Into the very smallest part.
He sees not only every deed,
But to every motive, He takes heed.
Your every word and every thought
To God's holy Word is brought.
His perfect Truth will be the judge
And, in this Light, you cannot fudge.
So, why not come to God today,
And all your pretenses put away?
Quit playing all your foolish games
Your lies, deceits, your empty claims.
God is waiting, child, for you.
He wants to help you start anew.
The choice is yours, not His to make,
If self deception, you'll forsake.
Lay your life before His Word.
Let it pierce you like a sword.
Let it cut away the sin,
And let it make you whole again.

For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

This is the first poem I have put on the newsletter, so I don't know how it will look when you get it. I hope the words are not all scrambled on the page. When you get the newsletter, it does not look the same way as we sent it out. We have everything lined up, matched up, and looking good. However, when we send it out and open it up, things aren't lined up on the page any more. We still haven't figured out why. Thanks for your patience with us. We are still learning.

Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2010

PRY THOSE SPIRITUAL FINGERS LOOSE!

"Have money in bank," you say after making a deposit in your local bank. As you drive off, you leave your money in the hands of the bank. You never worry a second over it, because you trust the bank to take care of it. You know the money will be safe and will be there when you need to draw it out, because it is FDIC insured. All it takes is your signature to withdraw whatever you need from your account.

It's sad that we trust a fallible bank with our money more than we trust an infallible God with our lives. We understand, "Have money in bank," but we cannot seem to comprehend, "Have faith in God." We come to God to deposit our burdens and problems, but we get up and walk away with them still in our hands. We're so afraid that God won't take care of our deposits according to our own plans that we just won't "let go and let God." With clenched fists, we pray, "Oh, God, I give You this burden. I turn it all over to You. Please take this from me, Lord."

Friend, if you're filled with worry and doubt, it's time to pry those spiritual fingers loose from all that "stuff" you're so stubbornly hanging onto. God cannot take that burden from you any more than the bank could take your money when you clasp your fingers around that deposit and won't let go.

You have a free will in this matter, you know. So, why don't you trust God for a change? Why don't you just let go for once in your life? Don't you think He's trustworthy? Don't you think He knows how to run your life better than you do? What makes you think you know what you need more than the One who has created this awesome and vast universe and is taking excellent care of it all?

You understand, "Have money in bank," so why can't you just transfer that to "Have faith in God?" Just as you would place your money IN the bank, put all your faith IN God. Then, take your sticky fingers off your deposit and allow God to handle it as He sees fit. After all, His bank is not FDIC insured, but it's insured by the Bank of Heaven, which will never go out of business, will never be overdrawn, and will never fail. It's eternally secure!

Friend, you may not always understand the way your Heavenly Banker runs His bank, but you can rest assured He never, ever, ever makes a mistake! So, pry those spiritual fingers loose today, give everything to God, and start enjoying your journey down here below.

Just want to tell you all that I love you and I thank God for each one of you. Thank all of you who are making the P.H. possible. We could not do it without the combined efforts of so many wonderful people! God bless you all exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or even think!

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010

TWO FOR ONE!

Sales! Bargains! Buy one; get one free! Two for one! Probably everyone likes these terms! They sound good to the ears! We always like to think we are getting a good deal on something!

Well, I have decided to apply the "two for one" principle in another way! And it is going to make the devil extrememly mad! Every time a negative thought about another person crosses my mind, I'm going to think of two positive things about that person! I'm going to get "two for one."

Now, that's a deal...a deal gone sour for the devil and a deal of the hour for me! I like it! Gotta go...I'm looking for some deals today and I can't wait to start!

We have a need! Our house on Rock Springs Road, which we recently purchased, is desperately in need of yard work. The house sat empty for almost a year and the yard suffered! We don't know what to do with it! If the Lord lays it on your heart to help with this, please call Cherrie at 678-409-7213.

Wow! The domino effect is at work! Missy came to the P.H. a year and a half ago. Her dad and mom both got saved after seeing what God had done in her life. Several others have gotten saved since then from their family. Then, yesterday in church, Danny (who is there because of this family) brought 25 people, 5 generations, to church. Three or four of them (not sure) got saved yesterday! We all have a mission field. Let's get on our field and work to bring them in!

Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010

YARD SALE: This Friday and Saturday from 8-4; 178 Liberty Bell Lane in Griffin. We are praying for about $3000, which will cover the costs of opening the thrift store. We need tables if anyone has some to donate: card tables, picnic tables, any kind of tables.) We could use saw horses, as we have 3 doors to put over them as tables. Please put your name on whatever you bring with a magic marker so we will know whose they are.

THE "MOW" TRAIL OR THE "T & O" TRAIL?

Contrary to popular opinion, you can change horses in the middle of the stream. You might have been going down the wrong trail for a long time, but you can switch trails at a moment's notice. You have a choice as to which trail to take.

The widest, most well traveled trail is the "mow" trail. You'll discover that it's full of activity, as folks are hurrying and scurrying down this trail from morning till night. At first glance, this trail is much more appealing, as it offers the most excitement, the best opportunities, the greatest fun and the most traveling companions for your journey. This trail is also much easier, usually having very little opposition or friction pulling against you as you progress forward. You can travel down this trail as easily as a ball can roll downhill. This trail just looks the best all the way around...until you come to the dead end. Then, you suddenly discover its destruction, heartache, disappointment, despair and a tangled mess. Without fail, you'll find that this "my own way" trail is never the right one to take. It will "mow" you down in the end.

Ah, but there's another trail you can take, dear one. It's called the "T and O" trail. At first glance, it isn't nearly as appealing as the "mow" trail. The travelers on this trail are few and far between. It looks pretty desolate and deserted. And there appears to be no fancy frills or frolics on this trail, nothing really exciting, no eye-cathcing opportunities. In fact, the trail looks drab and boring. And, if that isn't bad enough, the trail appears to be hard, filled with opposition and friction. Those few travelers on the "T & O" trail seem to be taking one step forward and two backwards. However, as you begin to look closer at the travelers, rather than at the scenery, you'll see something spectacular in their faces and in their lives. You'll see love, joy, peace, hope, faith, contentment, happiness, etc. And suddenly, this "trust and obey" trail looks pretty good after all.

Friend, if today you are on the "mow" trail, you can switch in the middle of the stream. Give your life to Christ! Surrender everything to Him! Let go and let God! Today, don't get "mowed" down. Instead, get on the "trust and obey" trail and follow it to heaven!

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010

I'm going to be a "grandmother!" Dara and Shawn are pregnant! Dara was the housemother for the Potter's House before she married Shawn two years ago. Dara has been just like a daughter to me and has been a blessing in my life in such an tremendous way! She has become such an awesome woman of God! I am very excited about my little spiritual grandbaby!

HUGE YARD SALE!

Jan Kelley is having a gigantic yard sale for the P.H. on July 16 and 17 from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. She has truckloads of things to sell. Please spread the word to others. The proceeds will go to the P.H. The address of the yard sale is 178 Liberty Bell Lane in Griffin. Directions will be on another email.

HELP CHANGE LIVES!

I have been asked to put a donation box on the daily emails and on the website by some who wish to donate and have told me they would love to donate online. It is much easier for them. So, from now on, we will have the little donate box if you wish to use it. The donations are in $5 increments. So, if you wanted to donate $20, for instance, you would put a 4 beside the word quantity. That means you are donating 4 "$5", or $20. All monies will be deposited directly in the Potter's House checking account. Thank all of you for your love and support. You are helping change lives for eternity!

Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010

LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE OPENING A THRIFT STORE!

Wow! You never know what the Lord is going to do next. For several years now, I have thought about a thrift store, because we get lots of donations, including furniture, that we could sell and help fund the P.H. I have mentioned it several times to others, but I always told the Lord, "If You want us to have a thrift store, then You bring it to pass. I don't have time, nor the inclination, to do this. I want someone else to do it all and just let me continue on with my teaching and leading the girls."

Well, He took me up on my prayer. A couple of weeks ago, Jan Kelley told me that the Lord had laid on her heart that the P.H. needs a thrift store. She didn't know I had even considered it. Then, this past Sunday, she told me to be looking for a building. She has a niece who owned a thrift store and is moving...and she said we can get all her fixtures, sign, cash register, etc. In other words, we can get all the things we need to open a store, so we just need a building.

Of course, I told the Lord again that I didn't want to have anything to do with it. And guess what? Yesterday, Jan called me and said that we have a building. Someone has donated a 2000 square foot building at Indian Springs, rent free, us paying utilities only, for a thrift store for the P.H. I was blown away and still am! It will not only be a source of income for the P.H., but will also hopefully be a place of employment in the future for some of our ladies.

Jan told me the only thing we need now is the money to purchase the stuff from her niece. So, we are praying for that! And, we are also praying for just the right person to be in charge, as Jan has too much on her plate to run a thrift store.

Wow! Brother Benny preached Sunday about being stretched. Well, I am that rubber band right now and I needed stretching! I am really excited that the Lord is allowing me to be in on what He is doing! I've learned in these 35 years of serving Him that it is never boring, never stagnant, never comfortable.....but it is the most wonderful and glorious life in the world! I thank and praise my wonderful Savior and Lord!

Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2010

EXCITING CHANGES TAKING PLACE AT THE P.H.

There are some exciting changes taking place at the Potter's House. We have some brand new opportunities which I would like to tell you about.

First of all, Lisa will be moving out of the Potter's House and will become the housemother at Melba's Manor. So far, the maternity home cannot seem to get off the ground. They are in need of a strong, reliable, experienced lady to help get it started...and Lisa is that person! She will have lots more free time, because the girls at Melba's Manor will be in school every day from 9 to 1. Also, other ladies from the church will be taking them to doctor's appointments, etc., which will give her more free time. There are many ladies involved in the ministry already who will be offering their services.

So, Lisa will be at Melba's Manor, but she will still be involved with the P.H. She is going to come down every morning at 6:30 to have a morning devotional with our ladies and get their day started in the right direction. She also will continue to work all the case plans, which includes probation reports, talking with judges and probation officers and lawyers, and going to court with the girls. And, she will also be over second phase of the P.H., helping these ladies with their finances and any other problems they may encounter.

Kim will be the housemother until she graduates. Lisa already had her trained as floor leader and Kim already had much of the responsibility of the home. Our plans at the present are to train housemothers from within our home and for the housemother, the Hannah House ladies, graduates, second phasers, Lisa, myself and Brenda Price to become a team and all of us do it together. We are all very excited about it! Different ones will be dropping in at the house unexpectedly. They will spend time individually and will be praying with and counseling those who are struggling with something in their lives.

Brenda just moved into the new home that we just bought that is about half a mile from the P.H. She will be a vital part of the ministry, working along with me. She has been my prayer partner and dear friend for 30 years and is an awesome Christian woman of God. She has already started her ministry with the ladies....she goes three times a day for prayer. She will be taking over many responsibilities as we get our schedule more refined and decide how we are all going to work together.

My husband and I are planning on moving to Milner in the very near future. We are getting ready to put our home up for sale, so I can be closer to the P.H. and take more of an active part. Please pray that things will go smoothly and that I can move south in a short time. I am very, very excited about that!

Date: Wed, 16 Jun 2010

HATH GOD? OR GOD HATH!

It all started in the Garden of Eden. Satan, in the form of a serpent, asked Eve a question that has plagued mankind throughout the centuries. He is still asking the same question today, "Yea, hath God said?"

Jesus Christ, on the other hand, in the form of a servant, said the same four words, only He made a statement with them rather than a question. He is still making the same statement today, "Yea, God hath said!"

In making many daily decisions in life, you either ask, "Hath God?" or "God hath." Perhaps in the past you have been living mainly by "Hath God?" You have looked around at the mamby-pamby, watered down, weak Christianity in America and have adjusted the Scriptures to fit what you see. Since many are living in sin and prospering, it appears that one can get saved, live any way he chooses, ignore God's Word and still receive God's blessings. As you ask, "Yea, hath God said," you have concluded that His Word doesn't really mean exactly what it says. Facts just don't seem to bear it out. You have developed a Christianity based, not on His Word, but on the experiences and explanations from the lives of others.

        If you have built your life upon satan's question instead of upon Jesus' statement, then you have built upon sinking sand. Your house may look good, but it will crumble beneath your feet one day.

        It's high time you begin building your Christian walk upon Jesus' statement, 'Yea, God hath said!" You need to believe what God says simply because God said it and not because circumstances or logic or reason verify it. God has spoken it and that settles it. If there is any doubt, let it be on the part of man.....never on God's part. "Let God be true, but every man a liar."

        If circumstances seem to contradict the Word of God, always go with what God says. Let God be true; let circumstances be liars. If feelings tell you the exact opposite of what God's Word says, step out on the Word in spite of your feelings. Let God be true, but feelings be liars.

Hell is filled with "Hath God said" folks. Heaven is populated by "God hath said" folks. Which one are you? Do you need to change your question to a statement?

Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010

AN ORDINARY HAMMER IN EXTRAORDINARY HANDS!

Ordinary. Worn. Rough-looking. Just a rusty old hammer. It probably would not have been picked as "Hammer of the Year," nor would anyone have paid it any special attention. However, this hammer was, in spite of its looks, very special. It was the hammer chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ, the hammer with which He did His carpentry work here on earth.

Now, Jesus could have just spoken the things He wanted to make into existence; yet, He did not do this. Rather, He chose an ordinary hammer. He gave it the great privilege of being a co-laborer with Him. It was a privileged instrument in the hands of the Creator, as the Lord used it to carry out His earthly work!

Ordinary. Plain. Just a common working person. He probably would not have been picked as "Person of the Year" for he had never accomplished great things in his lifetime. He wasn't well-known; in fact, most folks paid very little attention to him. He was not as educated, as talented, or as good-looking as many around him; thus, he generally felt inferior and less important than others.

But one day, while reading God's Word, four little words just jumped off the page and nearly knocked him over. "I have chosen you." He had read those words many times, but he had never read them like he did this day. This time, he really believed them. He realized he had been chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ...picked out from all those on earth, set apart, dedicated to his Master's use.

Suddenly, it dawned on him that, although the Lord could just speak and do whatever He pleases, He will not do that. Instead, He has Divinely chosen to do all His work through ordinary, common human instruments.

Friend, do you feel ordinary? Common? Unnoticed? Well, if you have received Christ as your Savior, then you have been chosen. The Heavenly Carpenter has much work He wants to do here on earth, but He is in need of some common, ordinary human instrument through which He can do that work. He has His eye on you today! So, why don't you be an ordinary hammer in extraordinary hands?

Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010

FOUR DAYS OF SILENCE!

One day...two days...three days...four days...and still no word! It had been four long agonizing days of silence. At first, they had been filled with anticipation, expecting Jesus to arrive at any time and heal their brother. But now, all their hopes had completely vanished. There wasn't even a shred of expectancy left in them any more. It was too late. Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. And, even if Jesus did arrive now, there was absolutely no way possible for Lazarus to be healed. His body had already started decomposing.

Martha and Mary had started out with high hopes, but four days of silence had erased those hopes. Time has a way of doing that! Oh, but these sisters failed to see the bigger picture. (God always has a bigger picture, by the way.) They had wanted healing, but Jesus had something much greater. The four days of silence were preparation for a much larger revelation of Himself than they had ever dreamed possible. They were about to learn that Jesus Christ IS the Resurrection. And, they would soon experience that resurrection power when Jesus raised their brother from the dead.

Martha and Mary had started out with finite, fleshly hopes for a healing. Instead, they received the infinite, spiritual knowledge of a far greater truth...that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; and he that believeth in Jesus though he were dead, yet shall he live.

Dear one, perhaps you are going through a silence in your life right now. You have prayed and cried and called on the Lord, but the heavens might as well be brass. God just hasn't answered your heart cry, although it seems so urgent and necessary to you. As far as you know, everything is right between your soul and your Savior. You have no known, unconfessed sin in your life. You are in His Word every day and often on your knees. You want with all your heart to serve Him and to please Him. So, why, then, this silence?

Rejoice, O Christian, rejoice! God is not worried. He's not wringing His hands. He already knows the outcome. And, it may just be that He is preparing you for a greater revelation of Himself. Your four days or four years may soon be coming to an eye-opening, spiritual enlargement. You may have been asking for healing...but God wants to send a resurrection!

Date: Thu, 27 May 2010
Subject: Daily Devotional

THOUGHTS ON PRAYER

           "The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer. We are never so high as when we are on our knees. Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. Prayer is omnipotent. It can do anything God can do. When we pray, God works. All fruitfulness in service is the outcome of prayer, of the worker's prayers, or of those who are holding up holy hands on his behalf. We all know how to pray, but perhaps many of us need to cry as the disciples did of old, "Lord, teach us to pray." From "The Kneeling Christian

         "A serious error concerning prayer prevails in our common understanding, which is to say, that we often think of prayer as an outlet for expressing what we need...as our cry to God for help. We do not see that prayer is the asking of God to fulfill HIS needs. Prayer is God accomplishing His purpose through the prayers of the believers." Watchman Nee

        "I have determined to move men, through God, by prayer alone." Hudson Taylor

A daily devotional from The Potter's House for Women.
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 09:50:36 -0400

BETTER LISTEN TO THE MASTER METEOROLOGIST!

Grabbing my umbrella as I walked out the door, I headed for church. It was absolutely beautiful outside, with no signs of rain anywhere on the horizon. However, I had listened to the weather forecast before leaving home and saw that severe thunderstorms were headed our way from Alabama. So, even though it was sunny outside, I believed the meteorologists and wanted to be prepared. And, just as predicted, the bottom fell out while I was in church. I sure was glad I had acted upon the word of the experts rather than upon my own sight.

Perhaps, dear ones, it's time to grab our spiritual umbrellas, our Bibles, before we leave home. Biblical meteorologists, or prophets, have predicted a coming storm that's unlike anything the world has ever seen. The magnitude of this storm is so immense that the entire world will be affected by it. None of the rivers, lakes, oceans, atmosphere, plant life, elements, or even the heavens will escape this storm. It's called the "Tribulation," in which the whole world will be plunged into the most awful period of time there has ever been or ever will be!

Oh, it's sunny out right now, but there are some dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The Master Meteorologist, who's never been wrong even once, told us in His holy book about this storm that's coming. He told us what to look for and what to expect. However, most people are paying no attention to His warnings. It seems pretty foolish that folks would believe an earthly meteorlogist and be prepared for an earthly storm, yet fail to believe Biblical forecasters and face the Tribulation unprepared.

The Bible lays out an evacuation route to escape this coming storm. All those people who have trusted Christ as their Savior and Lord and have completely surrendered their lives to Him will be raptured and taken to heaven. They will be evacuated from earth by the Master Meteorologist just before the storm hits.

So, friend, how do you stand today? Have you trusted Christ? Have you totally surrendered and committed your entire life to Him? Are you taking heed to the spiritual forecast found in the Word of God? If not, then one day the storm will hit and it will be too late to get your spiritual umbrella of protection! Listen to the Master Meteorologist! He's never been wrong! Submit, commit, and He will transmit!

Potter's House April 26, 2010

Hello to you all! We just wanted to let you know that you will not be receiving a newsletter this week. Most of us are in Destin for the week. We are praying for a mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God. We do not want to come home the same! Everyone is really excited about this awesome spiritual retreat. We do this twice a year and the Lord always shows up in powerful, life changing ways.

The girls pay for the trip. We ask their families to send money to take care of the gas, food, etc. Many people think that this is a vacation, but it is far from that. It is a time for the girls to go down to the beach early in the morning and read their Bibles and pray. Somehow God becomes so real sitting on that ocean and listening to the waves rolling in. For most of them, it will be the first time they have ever seen the beach through the eyes of their Creator. They are completely awe-struck when they realize the vastness of the ocean and know that He measured the waters in the hollow of His hand.

Also, we have group times each day, where we learn Scripture, talk about what God is doing in our lives, pour our souls out to each other in brokenness and repentance, and enjoy a wonderful time of praise and worship. It will make memories for all of them that they will never forget as long as they live!

It is exciting to me because I get to spend the whole week with the girls. I get to know them much better and get to spend personal time with each one, talking, praying, crying, and just getting to hear their hearts. It is a special blessing to me.

We will start the newsletter back next Monday. Hope you all have a great week. Pray that we will all be broken and we will surrender totally to the Lord and come back on fire for Him! We all want to be women of God and make a difference in our world!

Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2010

ARE YOU STRUGGLING?

Struggling? Defeated? Discouraged? No matter how hard you try and struggle and make up your mind to do better, you still fail every time? You just keep suffering defeat after defeat at the hands of satan? Will this madness ever end?

Well, friend, I have good news for you. It has already ended! It actually ended 2009 years ago on a hill called Calvary. Satan was defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ. That evil, ruthless one is down for the count and there's no more power needed to whip him. In fact, he's already "whupped!"

It that's so, then how come he's still so active in my life? How come I cannot seem to get the victory over him? Perhaps you have never realized that you don't have to get victory...you already have it! Victory is not you overcoming sin. It's Jesus overcoming you!

And, maybe there's something else you haven't realized. Your struggle with satan is not a "power" struggle. It's a "truth" struggle. You don't need power, because Jesus' power already took satan down. So, since the evil one cannot conquer you by power, he causes you to defeat your own self by questioning the Truth. He puts doubts in your mind about God's Word.

If you entertain even a spark of doubt, you're not really believing God and that will lead to defeat and discouragement. You won't live as "more than a conqueror" if you don't believe that you are one! You won't be rejoicing in the midst of financial problems if you don't believe that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

So, why don't we all just turn the tables on the old sly devil? Let's quit listening to him. Let's realize our struggle with him is not a power struggle. It's a truth struggle. Let's just start believing and acting on Truth and pin satan to the mat. He's down for the count. Let's keep him there!

Our newest girl, who just came yesterday, got saved. Jessica was out walking with Miranda, Andrea and Dacia. She said she couldn't wait to get saved. Miranda asked her why she hadn't gotten saved and she said, "I don't know how." So, Miranda led her through the sinner's prayer right there in the road. They were all so excited when they got back to the house! Miranda is really coming along. We are so proud of her!

Andrea rededicated her life to the Lord Sunday afternoon in Lisa's car. She said she had been saved as a child but wanted to completely give her life to Christ now. We are so excited about these new young ones surrendering to the Lord!

Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010

REVIVAL? HOW DESPERATE ARE WE?

It happened in the 1700's and lasted for years. It was the great revival at Hernnhut. Twenty-four men and twenty-four women covenanted together to pray hourly, thus forming a 24/7 prayer chain. This chain continued uninterrupted for 100 years. By 1776, they had sent out 226 missionaries from their community at Herrnhut in the Czech Republic. This revival resounded all over the world!

Wow! This sounds so awesome! I don't know about you, but I desperately want a revival in America. However, I must ask myself, "Am I willing to pay the cost the Moravians payed to have this revival? How desperate am I? Or is it just words that sound nice to me?"

During this revival, there were some who deliberately contracted leprosy just so they could live in a leper colony and win the lepers to Christ. There were some who deliberately sold themselves into slavery just so they could win the slaves to Christ. I would say that, to the Moravians, revival wasn't just a nice sounding little word...it was a life or death situation!

Would I be willing to contract leprosy or sell myself into slavery just to win people to Christ? Just how much is a soul worth to me? What cost am I willing to pay to follow Christ? How desperately do I want revival? Could I say, "I want to win the lost at any cost?" Had I rather play than pray? Do I sleep easy at night while millions drop off into a Christless eternity?

You know, our country is going down fast! The only hope is for a mighty move of God to sweep across our land like wind over a wheat field. But, this move isn't going to come unless we get desperate! I want revival, but I'm not at the point the Moravians were...however, I'm seriously asking God to get me there! Will you join me?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

.....The funeral for Teresa's son, Dustin, will be today at 7 P.M. at the chapel of Jonesboro First Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 this afternoon in the same place. God's grace to Teresa has been absolutely amazing!

.....Last night, we all had an awesome time. We went to Powder Springs to hear Brother Benny preach in a revival meeting and it was a powerful service. It touched all the girls, especially as it was about the longest trip in the world, a guilt trip. All of our girls laid guilt down at the altar. Steve Pattison drove us on the church bus. (He probably won't ever get over that trip!) On the way home, we stopped at Chick-Fil-A and someone graciously paid for all the girls to eat. They will never forget it!

Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010

Shake Well Before Using

Most of us are like medicine. Stamped across our lives should be the words, "Shake well before using." When times are good and we're enjoying pleasure and ease and prosperity, we tend to put God on the back burner. Going fishing...going to the lake...going to a ball game...all become more important than going to the house of God. Spending time in front of a TV set...spending time out shopping...spending time in worldly things...all become more important than spending time alone with God.

Oh, we keep Him somewhere in the back of our minds, but we grow cool in our service for Him. We lose our fervency, our zeal, our passionate love for Him. Reading His Word becomes a ritualistic and meaningless duty. Prayer becomes a last minute thing, something we do before we eat or something we do on our way from consciousness to la-la land every night.

In this lukewarm and apathetic state, God cannot use us. Therefore, He must, "Shake well before using." He often allows hard times and even tragic situations to invade our lives so that we will redirect our focus to Him again. Difficult situations that are out of our control will shake us and break us and make us get our priorities in line again. Tough times take us to the valley and the valley drives us to our knees, which is where we should have been all along.

Friend, are you in a valley of discouragement and despair today? Do you find yourself in tough times? If so, don't focus on the "Shake well." Just remember the "before using" part. God is in the process of bringing you back to the center of His will so He can use you in a mighty way!

Updates on the Potter's House

........The Legacy Group came to the P.H. last night. Wow, did God ever show up and show out! He came in such power that we all left overwhelmed with Him! Nobody even wanted to leave after it was over. It was intoxicating! There is no way to explain what happened last night, except to say that God manifested Himself to us in a powerful way!

........We had a Holy Ghost Delivery Room last night and heard the cry of the newborn, "I just got born again." While our service was going on, Lisa took one of our guests, a young lady named Amy, to the prayer room, as it was obvious God was dealing with her. Brenda Price got up and went into the prayer room with them...and Lisa and Brenda led this girl out of satanic bondage into the arms of Jesus! Then, there was was shouting going on in the house when they brought her back into the room with all of us! We give glory and honor and praise to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, for allowing us the privilege of being in His precious presence.

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010

Don't Be a One-Trunker!

It caught my eye that day for some reason. I had passed by it many, many times as I went walking in the woods, yet I had never noticed it before that day. It was unusual, certainly different from all the other trees around it. It was a big tree, having about ten trunks threading in and out amongst each other, as they made their way toward the heavens.

Immediately, the Lord spoke to my heart, as He so often does through His wonderful, amazing creation. "Which of those trees over there do you think would have the best chance of survival during a fierce windstorm?" Of course, without a doubt, I knew the one with all the intertwined trunks could withstand much easier than a lone, one-trunk tree all by itself!

In just those few seconds, I received a valuable life lesson from my Savior. He was speaking to my heart about us Christians. We need each other. When our souls are knit together, intertwined so closely that nothing can separate us, we can stand during all the fierce attacks of the enemy. It's when we are alone, separated from our spiritual family, that we are more likely to succumb.

So, my brothers and sisters, let's love each other, draw close to each other, and stand together in these perilous times. Remember: Souls knit together are much more difficult to unravel!

Updates on the Potter's House

........We are so excited! We received a large donation last week of $8,000 from a very precious friend of the P.H. We are in need of some things that we are going to get. First, we are purchasing a much-needed ice machine that will make all the ice every day we need for the ladies. (Ice for 19 women for all day coming from ice trays is tricky.) We are also in need of several new mattresses, as some of them were donated a few years ago and are not in the greatest shape. Also, we want a picnic table for the back yard, so the girls can eat out there when they grill out. These are just a few of the things on our list. We are so grateful for this much needed additional money that we can apply to things that we don't have to have, but would be nice to get.

........The same person who donated the $8000 also gave $2000 to pay for Lisa's mission trip to Honduras. Lisa is so, so excited. She will be going in June. She now has the money for the trip and spending money as well. Thank you with all our hearts, our precious anonymous friend! We love you!

Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010

It had just rained the night before and there were still droplets of water perched on every leaf. As I gently touched one of the droplets, I thought of how seemingly insignificant one drop of water is to us. I held the droplet on the tip of my finger and, as I gazed upon it, it dawned on me how precious it would be to someone in hell.

Two thousand years ago, the rich man in hell, mentioned in Luke 16, cried out for Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue. He wailed that he was tormented in the fiery flames and would be grateful for just one drop of water...just one! That rich man is still in hell toay. He is still crying out. For, you see, he hasn't seen or felt even one tiny droplet of water in over 2000 years. And what's worse, he will never, ever, throughout all eternity ever feel or taste another drop again.

Dear one, don't get so caught up in the things that will pass away that you neglect the things that won't pass away. Take care of your soul. It's the only one you have. When this life is over, you will never have another chance to go back and make things right! Do today what you will wish you had done when you stand before Almighty God after your physical life here on earth is over!

One droplet of water! Insignificant? Perhaps to us, but not to the millions of souls in hell! Let's cherish each droplet and let it remind us to do everything we can to lead souls to the Living Water while they still have time.

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........This is pass weekend for the girls who have been there 4 months or longer. They are all excited to be going home.

..........Melody and I are going to a conference tomorrow at First Baptist Church of Rochelle. We will be spending the night in Cordele. We are supposed to be there to give information to the ladies about the P.H. We will have a table with our information and will be answering any questions everyone has.

Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010

"True holiness includes control over our physical bodies and appetites. If we are to pursue holiness, we must recognize that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we are to glorify God with them. Today, most of us Christians are lacking in the area of holiness of body. Gluttony and laziness, for example, were regarded by earlier Christians as sin. Today, we may look on these as weaknesses of the will, but certainly not sin. We even joke about our overeating and other indulgences instead of crying out to God in confession and repentance.

Our physical bodies and natural appetites were created by God and are not sinful in themselves. Nevertheless, if left uncontrolled, we will find out bodies becoming instruments of wickedness rather than instruments of righteousness. We will be pursuing the cravings of the sinful man instead of holiness. If we watch ourselves closely, we can see how often we eat and drink just to gratify physical desire; how often we lie in bed in the morning simply because we don't feel like getting up when we should; how often we give in to immoral looks and thoughts simply to satisfy the sin-tainted sex drive within us.

Michael Quoist in his book, "The Christian Response" says, "If your body makes all the decisions and gives all the orders and if you obey, the physical can effectively destroy every other dimension of your personality. Your emotional life will be blunted and your spiritual life will be stifled and ultimately will become anemic." Over 200 years ago, Susanna Wesley wrote, "Whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind....that thing is sin to you."

There is no place for laziness and indulgence of the body in a disciplined pursuit of holiness. We have to learn to say no to the body instead of continually giving in to its momentary desires. We tend to act according to our feelings. The trouble is, we seldom feel like doing what we should do. That is why we have to take control of our bodies and make them our servants instead of our masters." Taken from "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges

The body makes a great servant...but a very poor master! UPDATES

ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Sunday, Jennifer Patrick's husband, Shane, got saved in church and one of our new ladies, Beth, got saved in church. Praise God for what He is doing!

..........Tuesday night, Diana Cowan came for her monthly visit. We love Diana. She has been involved with us for a long time and has been such a blessing to us. Thank you, Diana, for coming every month and loving and supporting us!

Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010

We all desire it, but we don't all have it. 20/20 vision, that is! It sure would be nice to see clearly without glasses or contacts, but that's not usually the case after a certain age. However, the great news is that we have optometrists that can examine our eyes and tell us what we need to give us pretty close to 20/20 sight.

Well, we don't have 20/20 spiritual vision either. In fact, none of us have it! We all need the great Spiritual Optometrist to examine our vision and prescribe what we need to see clearly. I found my prescription this morning in the Word. It is II Chronicles 20/20. "Have faith in the Lord, your God, and you will be upheld. Have faith in His prophets and you will be successful."

There it is! To see clearly, I must have faith in the Lord. He will uphold me and guide me when I am trusting in Him. I must have faith in His prophets, which are the words written down in His Holy Word by the prophets of old, who were moved by the Holy Spirit. By following the precious words written by His prophets, I will be successful.

How about you today, dear one? Has your vision been blurred? Are you having trouble seeing clearly? If so, perhaps you haven't had your prescription filled. Today would be a good day to go to II Chronicles 20/20 and just start believing God! Have faith in Him. Have faith in His prophets. Then you, too, like John Newton, can sing, "Twas blind, but now I see."

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Check out the newsletter today. There are pictures of 3 of our graduates: Katie, Sarah, and Jessica. They are all doing good. It is so awesome to us to see the girls standing and doing good. Many of our graduates keep up with us on a regular basis. We are a family, not a facility. We become very close. Our extended family is growing bigger every day. We have so many graduates out there that it's getting harder to keep up with them. Julie is assuming that privilege of keeping them connected. She will be keeping up with all graduates and planning things for them.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

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Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010

HAVE YOU TAKEN A DETOUR?

A gnawing, unsettled feeling. Restlessness. A deep longing in my soul. Something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on the problem. I was faithful in my Christian walk. I read my Bible and prayed consistently. I attended all services at church. But, somehow I found myself stranded. Somewhere I had taken a detour and felt so far away from God. I was unable to sense His presence. I was frustrated in my attempts to get back to Him again. I found myself "trying" rather than "trusting;" "fretting" rather than "resting;" "saying prayers" rather than "praying." I had detoured from my closeness to Christ.

This detour was full of potholes...and I had fallen into every one of them. I wanted back on the straight and narrow path again. I wanted to feel His overflowing joy and love. I wanted to know again those rivers of living water pouring through my soul. I wanted to feel that peace that passes all understanding. And, of course, I wanted it instantly. However, "instant" was not what God had in mind.

As I searched God's Word for help, this verse popped out. "And ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." OK. So, I set out to find Him again, knowing this would take a determined effort on my part. I started by writing down all my sins, even though I felt no brokenness at the time. I confessed them one by one out of obedience as God instructed me in His Word. By an act of my will, I repented, or turned, from each sin. Then, I accepted His forgiveness and cleansing, based on His Word, not on my feelings.

For two days, I spent much time in the Bible and praying, even though I felt empty. I was determined to get God's presence again. And then, suddenly, God brought me back to the cross. He broke my heart over my sins and I again surrendered everything to Him. The moment I held up the white flag of surrender, the battle was over. Peace and joy flooded my soul. My detour ended at the foot of the cross.

How about you, dear one? Have you taken a detour? Do you find yourself far away from God? Are you trying rather than trusting? Are you fretting rather than resting? Are you saying prayers rather than praying? Are you ready to come back to your Father? He hasn't moved! You're the one who took the detour!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Surprise! As you know, Genora recently moved in with Ray and Bonnie Bull, got Mimi in school, got a job, and is doing great. Ray and Bonnie have a son about Genora's age. The minute he saw her, he said he fell in love with her. And, he has asked her to marry him....and she accepted. God is honoring her faithfulness. She told us that, ever since she left the P.H., she has continued to get up at 5 every morning and spend time alone with the Lord. That's the key to the Christian life....time spent with the Lord! He says if we seek Him and His kingdom first, everything else will be added. Amen!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010

HUDDLING KEEPS YOU WARM!

As you read this, an amazing thing is happening that you're unaware of. It goes on day and night without you even thinking about it. Your blood is flowing through your body in its never-ending, non-stop journey. The Bible tells us that "the life of the flesh is in the blood," as it continuously brings life-giving oxygen and food to all parts of your body. And, it also removes the deadly toxins that build up that would kill you. It brings life and removes death!

Blood does something else, too. It provides warmth, keeping your body temperature at 98.6 degrees. Without blood, your body would be as clammy and as cold as ice. Without it, you'd be dead!

Well, dear ones, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a body, too. And the life of the church is also in the blood...the blood of Jesus. His blood brings life and nourishment from God to every part of the body and it removes the deadly toxins of sin, carrying them as far as the east is from the west. It brings life and removes death!

The blood of Jesus does something else, too. It provides warmth. It's a cold, sinful, messed up world out there. It's a waste, howling wilderness. But, when you get in the presence of other believers, your soul begins to warm up. That's why we, as believers, need to hudde together. We need to keep our spiritual body temperature stable.

Thank God for the blood! The life of the flesh is in the physical blood. The life of the soul is in the blood of Jesus. Have you received Jesus as your Savior? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you love to huddle with fellow believers to keep your soul warm? You will never make it alone. Always remember: huddling keeps you warm!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

...........Lisa and I will be meeting with Stephanie Summers this morning to discuss revamping the Christian Women's Center in Griffin. Diane will be going with us. It would be so awesome if Diane could become a part of it and help the ladies who come into the shelter, since Diane was homeless for 12 years and has stayed in the C.W.C. several times.

..........Last Saturday, we had several ladies from Glen Haven Baptist Church to come and spend some time at the P.H. We love these ladies I have personally known Sandy Payton for many years. She is on staff at Glen Haven and is one of the most wonderful, anointed Christian women I have ever met. I love her dearly. She brings out a group to the P.H. a couple of times a year. We have also been to Glen Haven several times for testimonies, etc. This church has been a blessing to us.

..........This next Sunday, we will have the Sunday morning service at Cedar Rock Church in Jackson. They have been faithful supporters of the P.H. for about 5 years. Pastor Jim Myers is an awesome, fireball preacher. He has been a vital part in the life changes that we see in the girls at the P.H. We love him and all the wonderful folks at Cedar Rock. They are just family to us. We are excited about Sunday.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010

No more fingers! No more feet. No more eyes! He will never get any more of these! When a baby is born into this physical world, he is born with everything he will ever need to live in the physical realm. And, even though he has everything he will need, he has no knowledge of these things at birth. He has no clue what he got when he stepped out of the darkness of the womb into the brightness of the physical realm. He has to grow in knowledge of all he has and how to use what he has been given at birth.

Likewise, at one's spiritual birth, when he is born into the spiritual realm, he is born with everything he will ever need to live in his new spiritual world. However, like a physical baby, he has no knowledge of these things he got at birth. He has no clue what he got when he stepped out of the spiritual darkness into the light of Christ. He has to grow in knowledge of all he has and how to use what he was given when he was born again.

II Peter 1:3 says, "His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these, He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the Divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

Friend, as Christians, we have already been given everything we'll need for life and Godliness...but it comes through the knowledge of Him. Quit asking for so much stuff and start learning what you already have and how to use it. I used to ask God over and over for love and compassion for people, until I realized one day that I already had that. I have God living inside me. What more love could I want? All I had to do was to wake up to what I had and allow Him to live His life out through me! "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, bur Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Hallelujah!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Diane and Mary Edith will both graduate tonight. Mary Edith will be staying for second phase and will be looking for a job. She is a Registered Nurse, but doesn't know if she will go back into that field or not. Diane will also be looking for a job. There is a possibility of something for her that we will find out more about tomorrow.

..........Christina will begin learning photography with Errol and Stefani. She will be coming to my house every day, along with Stef, Mel, and Missy. The photography studio is in our basement. We are excited to have Christina coming on board with the P.H. ministry. She is very creative and has a lot to offer the ministry.

..........We have something really big to be praying about. Pam Jenkins started Jabbok Ministries and has written and published 7 awesome Bible studies. She is also a women's conference speaker. The Lord has laid on her heart to have a "Relentless Conference" on Nov. 5 and 6 and give all proceeds to the P.H. On Friday night, we will have praise and worship and on Saturday, we will have speakers. The P.H. will be giving tesimonies. We plan to have an awesome, graphic video (not just a DVD but a live re-enactment) that will show the actual lives and happenings of the girls...Stefani putting on pain patches, taking pills, drinking and Josh coming in and finding her passed out. It is going to be very life-changing! We are asking God to wake up Christians through this conference. We will give more details later.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010

"A crutch! Just for weak people! That's all religion is! How could anyone believe in all this fairy tale stuff anyway? How can they believe in a God they cannot see and cannot hear. That makes absolutely no sense! Hey, it's not for me. I'm not that weak-minded and naive."

Ever heard anyone say something like this? Well, it may sound tough, but in actuality, it shows ignorance. In the first place, one better not believe solely in what he can see. The human eye is designed to take in only about 18 inches of light. A person can be in a room with 20 feet of light from the floor to the ceiling, yet the opening in his eyes is programmed to take in only 18 inches. However, many animals have eyes that are designed with bigger pupils and can take in more light, thus enabling them to see things in the darkness that humans cannot see. And, besides that, there is an invisible world all around us that neither we nor animals can see....things that can only be seen with a microscope. So...better not say, "I'll have to see it to believe it."

In the second place, one better not believe solely in what he can hear. The human ear is designed to hear only 9 octaves. A bullfrog croaks below the last note on the scale a human ear can pick up....but, when the bullfrog is trying to sing tenor, that's when a person can hear him. A cricket chirps above the highest note on the scale that the human ear can pick up...but, when the cricket is chirping bass, that's when a person can hear him. And then, there are all the radio and TV waves around that we cannot hear unless we have a receiver.

So, anyone who says they believe only what they can see or hear is rather foolish. God is a Spirit. The human senses are equipped only for the physical realm; therefore, they cannot see or hear God. He must be seen and heard through the spiritual senses, which are activated only at spiritual birth and receive information in the spiritual realm.

Have you ever had this spiritual birth? If not, today would be a good day to surrender all to this God you cannot see or hear. You'll find it's not foolish after all. It's the best thing in the world that has ever happened to you!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Tonight, we are having Genora's graduation. She is already living with Ray and Bonnie Bull and has a job. Mimi is in school there and they are doing great. We will be excited to see her tonight and have her official graduation.

Website: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010

Two worlds! We all live in two worlds: the physical world around us and the world of our thoughts. Cain and Abel lived in the same world physically, but they certainly didn't live in the same world of thoughts. Judas Iscariot and the apostle John lived in the same world physically but not in the same world of thoughts. King Saul and David lived in the same physical world but not in the same mental world.

In today's world, we have people like Joni Tada Erickson, who has been a paraplegic for years; yet has done great things with her life. We have people like David Ring who, despite cerebral palsy, is a powerful preacher of the gospel. We have people like Vujicic, born in Australia with no arms and no legs, who is a mighty preacher and is impacting thousands with his powerful message of hope.

Therefore, we can conclude that the circumstances around us, the physical world, is not what makes us. It's the world of our thoughts....what we think about our circumstances that determine what kind of people we will be and what we will do with our lives. The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

Dear one, what is your world of thoughts like? Are they "me" centered or Christ-centered? Are they grubbing around in the mire of self pity or are they focused on making a difference in the lives of others? Today, you have a choice! You can place your thoughts wherever you choose them to be. So, get up and set your affections on things above...not on things on the earth! It's said that 10% of life is circumstances; 90% is what you do with those circumstances!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We had two ladies from Habersham County to come Tuesday. They are wanting to start something similar to the P.H. in their area. Next Tuesday, I am going to talk with Stephanie Summers, the wife of the Pastor of Carver Road Baptist Church in Griffin. She is taking over the Christian Women's Center and wants to revamp it. The Summers have been loyal supporters of the P.H. and Stephanie wants to do many things at the CWC like we do at the P.H. We have also had some other ministries, like Shining Light in McDonough, to come out and see what we do and institute many of the same things in their programs. I've had people tell me that they believed the Lord would use our program as a model program for others. What an honor that would be! We need your prayers as we seek to help others start programs to help ladies in distress.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010

Relentless! Determined! And for what? We cannot figure it out! A beautiful redbird comes to the double doors of our master bedroom every single day and flies into the glass over and over again. Sometimes, he perches on the top glass that is over the doors and pecks and pecks. You can hear him even downstairs. We have no idea why he does this every day.

Well, as foolish as this tirade is for the redbird, we are not any better off. We, too, do the same things day after day, week after week, year after year. I've heard that insanity is doing the same thing in the same way expecting different results. Isn't that what we often do with life? We continue down the same path, doing the same things we've always done, yet expecting somehow that things will be different this time.

Dear friend, if you're caught up in this redbird pecking mentality, why not break out and do something entirely different? If you've been wandering in the wilderness of Christianity, it's time to kick off your shoes of complacency and go on into the promised land. Quit drinking from the world's wells and start drinking from the Fountain of Living Water. Quit eating slop in the hogpen of life and start feasting from the Master's table. Leave the glass alone.....you wouldn't even want to be inside there if you ever got in! You'd lose your freedom.

May today be the day you quit doing the same things the same way, expecting different results! Let His Word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path! Forsake all and follow Him!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The Lord is really blessing the Potter's House. Thanks to all of you, God is amply meeting all our needs. Last week, our expenses came to around $3500. That included food, the note on the Honda Civic, gas for the vehicles, new rotors and brakes for one of our vehicles, a tank of propane, and some other things. That was above and beyond the ordinary week, but God had already sent in the money to pay for everything. We thank Him for using you to help us meet all the needs of 23 ladies. Financially, we are doing good and we are so, so grateful for that!

..........Some people don't realize the food it takes to feed us. But, look at it this way. With 23 ladies, it takes 46 slices of bread for just one sandwich apiece. It takes 23 pieces of meat for one meal. And, if each lady eats 3 meals a day, that is 69 meals a day. So, we thank all of you who help us with food. We still buy a lot, but not near as much as we would have to buy if it weren't for you all. God bless you all who donate money, food, time, resources, clothes, etc. We love you all!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010

Different sizes. Different shapes. Different colors. It could be rickety and shabby. It could be big and freshly painted. But, regardless of its appearance, it just stands in one place day after day. One would think it is not very important. But ask anybody and they'll tell you otherwise. No one would want to do without their mailbox.

The mailbox has one purpose...to carry messages to people all over the world. It is part of a much greater system, but it is a vital part of that system, no matter how small it is. However, to be effective, it cannot be set up just anywhere. It couldn't be out in a field somewhere, disconnected from its system. If it were, it would be utterly useless. It could never receive or transmit the stream of human communications for which it is made.

Likewise, we Christians are God's little mailboxes. Regardless of how tall or short, fat or skinny, educated or uneducatd we are, we still have one major purpose...to receive and transmit the stream of Divine comunication between heaven and earth. We are part of a much greater system, but we are a vital part of that system. And, like a regular mailbox, we cannot be disconnected from our Source, which is the Lord Jesus Christ, or we could no longer receive or transmit.

Friend, if you are saved, you are God's little mailbox. You might be a little ole' unpainted, rusty, small mailbox, but you can nevertheless still carry heavenly mail just the same as a pretty, nicely finished, sturdy one. So, get your eyes off the other mailboxes and just do your job! The Master Postman has some heavenly mail that He wants to deliver to earth....and He wants to deliver it through you!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Christina got to spend some time this weekend with her dad. She hadn't seen him for 3 years. They had an awesome time catching up on everything. Yesterday, Christina's mom, aunt and her brother all came to church. God is working in all her family.

..........Lisa got to talk at length with her brother that she just found after 26 years of no communication whatsoever. They both agree that it is God that has brought his about. One day, we will tell the story of how this came about. It is too long to put here.....it is through a miracle of God that it happened.

..........Genora and Mimi are doing great at Ray and Bonnie's. It is a great match. Genora just found out that she has been hired at Captain D's in Stockbridge and starts work today. We miss her, but she is in great hands. She goes to church with Ray and Bonnie at Eagle's Landing First Baptist Church. Those are the ladies that have been involved with us for 5 years...they are so precious to us. They are some of the sweetest, most precious Christian ladies you could ever meet.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010

He wondered! God wondered! Did you know there was a time when God wondered? He didn't wonder that there were no more preachers in the land. He didn't wonder that there were so many lost people. He didn't wonder that there was a shortage of His Word. He didn't wonder that the world was in such a mess. Instead, God wondered that there was no intercessor. "And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor." Isaiah 59:16 (KJV)

Perhaps, as God is looking down at America today, He may be again wondering. He has blessed us more than any nation that has ever existed; yet, we have put Him out of our schools, government, and even most homes. Our country is in a big mess. But, where are the intercessors? Where are the people who are fasting and praying and on their faces before God, interceding for our country to return to Him?

It has been said, "The secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer." Someone else has said, "Our poverty in prayer is the seedbed of all our failure." The unknown author of "The Kneeling Christian" wrote, "...there is nothing the devil dreads so much as prayer. His great concern is to keep us from praying. He loves to see us up to our eyes in work, provided we do not pray. He does not fear because we are eager and earnest Bible students, provided we are little in prayer. Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. Let us never forget that the greatest thing we can do for God or for man is to pray. For we can accomplish far more by our prayers than by our work. Prayer is omnipotent; it can do anything that God can do. When we pray, God works. Prayer is the greatest power on earth. It moves the hand that moves the world."

So, dear one, let's make sure that we don't join the masses who aren't praying. Let's not be one that causes God to wonder!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The ladies from Rock Springs are coming tonight. Everyone is invited, even if you don't go to Rock Springs. We are meeting at 6, but you can come any time. We eat first, so it is usually around 7 when we get started with our spiritual time together. We are praying that God will show up mightly and that we will all get a brand new touch from Him!

..........Our new lady, Brenda, rededicated her life to Christ yesterday in church. Also, Carrie's husband rededicated his life to Christ and Jennifer P's nephew rededicated his life to Christ. We thank God that He continues to move in the families of our girls.

..........If you cannot open the newsletter, let me know. I am putting the pictures from the newsletter on a Microsoft Word document, so I can print them off. We are making a book, called "Memories from 2010." I laminate the pictures and put them in this book. So, I could easily send them to you by the Microsoft Word document if you cannot get them though the newsletter.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com If you haven't checked it out in a while, we have some new before and after pictures and new pictures on the Ministry and Outreach Teams.

Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010

Ten Ways I Can Know For Sure I Am Married!

.....I am a good person. .....I keep the Ten Commandments .....My parents were married. .....I do all the things that married people do. .....I do everything for my spouse that I should do. .....I have joined a league of married folks. .....I've attended lots of weddings. .....I got rice showered on me at a wedding once. .....I've given many gifts to wedding charities. .....I just feel married.

Obviously, none of the above are any indication of marriage. A person would be foolish to use any of these statements as proof of his marriage. Marriage occurs when two people make a total commitment of their lives to one another for life. They agree to forsake all other lovers and become united as one; to love and cherish each other through thick and thin. Marriage is a solemn vow of giving oneself to another.

Likewise. salvation is a total commitment, a solemn vow, a giving of oneself completely to God. Salvation is not based on being good, keeping the Ten Commanments, having Christian parents, doing the things believers do, doing everything for the Lord that we should do, joining a church, attending church regularly, getting baptized, giving gifts to charities, or feeling saved.

Salvation occurs when two people make a total commitment of their lives to one another. The Lord Jesus Christ has already offered Himself. He is the Bridegroom. Then, when we we agree to become united with Him, to turn our lives over to Him, to be married to Him for eternity, to surrender our lives to Him, to forsake all other lovers, then salvation occurs!

Friend, have you ever committed your life to the Lord Jesus? Have you accepted His offer and have you become united with Him as His bride?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Genora and Mimi are doing good. Mimi has come home every day with smiley faces from school. She is so happy to be with her mom. Genora says Mimi has the most awesome look on her face every day when she steps off that bus and sees her mom's face. Thank God for reuniting families!

..........Check out the video today on the newsletter. It is powerful! Stefani and Josh did a great job.

..........Missy is doing an awesome job putting the newsletter together three times a week. She is getting better and better. I am so proud of her for the great job she is doing. I hope all of you are able to open it. One clue: it won't always open on the first try. The video won't always open either. I think a lot of it depends on how many people are using the internet. Sometimes, when I can't open it, I will try again later. Sometimes, I have to make two or three tries. Let us know if you continue to experience problems.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010

Whirling! Spinning! Solving problems. That's your mind, especially when you get ready to pray. You try to stop the troubled waters long enough to say your prayers. Somehow, you manage to repeat words you've said so many times that they are just rote by now. And, after bringing the same, twenty year old shopping list to the Lord, you say your final "Amen," feeling somewhat better for having discharged your duty for the day.

Without realizing it, you have just passed up one of the most important, the most glorious, the most exciting, the most awesome thing in your whole day....spending time alone with God. You have been too busy all day and then too tired at night to have an audience with the King of the universe. For you see, the difference between "saying a prayer" and "praying" is the difference between having an audience with your walls and an audience with the Almighty Lord of Glory!

No wonder your prayers aren't getting answered. Walls cannot answer prayers! Oh, dear one, prayer is far more than bringing your shopping list to God. It's much more than telling God what you want. It's allowing God to tell you what He wants! It's being someone that He can share His great heart with, someone who wants to hear what blesses, burdens, grieves, and thrills Him. It's being someone He can trust, someone with no blocks or barriers or hindrances in their spiritual ears. It's someone who trusts Him, who is completely open, honest and bare before him. It's someone who wants to be His friend, someone who has time for Him, who loves to be with Him, who desires Him more than anyone or anything else in the world. It's someone who has fully surrendered his whole heart and life to Him.

Today, friend, it's high time you quit "saying prayers" and start "praying." The King of the universe is looking for someone just like you! You decide. Do you want an audience with the walls or with the King?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........I am really excited. I've had several people wanting copies of my book, "Even Weeds Have Flowers." I ordered 2000 copies and we have been out of copies for a while. I haven't been able to get it reprinted, because it was going to cost me between $4000 and $5000. But, there's good news. I have been in contact with someone from www.Amazon.com and they are going to print the book. A team will be working with me to redo the book and make it look more professional for only $650. It will then be placed on www.Amazon.com for sale and I will get 60% off every book that's sold. All proceeds will go directly to the Potter's House. I will let you know when the book is ready. You can either order it online from Amazon or you can get it from me. I can order as many copies as I want when I want.

..........Several of the ladies have the virus that is going around, but they're being real troupers!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010

We pray for rain, but leave our umbrellas at home. We pray for our lost loved ones to be saved, but never listen for the phone to ring with the news of their salvation. We pray for healing, all the while making preparations to go to the doctor. We pray for all kinds of situations and all kinds of needs; yet we really don't believe God is going to answer.

Why do we pray? What's the use if we aren't going to believe? What good will it do to pray a prayer that isn't backed up by belief? Reckon how God feels when we come to Him with our noodle prayers....no backbone, no persistence, no passion, no zeal, no fire, no heart? We tell the world that have an Almighty, all powerful, supernatural God; yet, we pray our wimpy little prayerettes, just barely clinging onto a slight possibility that He might answer. From what the world sees and hears of God in our lives, they aren't really too interested in this God that we tell them about. He looks just like the god they're already serving.

Perhaps we've gotten too big for our own britches! We've become so spiritually educated that we have lost that childlikeness we once had. We try to figure everything out! We read the OT, thinking that it was just for the Jews. We read the NT, thinking that it was written to a certain group of people at a specific time. We study the Hebrew and Greek so that we'll know more closely what everything means. We debate and rationalize and contextualize until we have a passage pretty well down to a science.

Oh, but somewhere along the line, we lose something. We forget that a little child just simply believes. He trusts. He accepts. He doesn't have to figure everything out. There's nothing wrong with learning and gaining more knowledge, but there is something wrong with losing the childlike faith that God intends us to have! Perhaps it's time we get down off our educated high horses and get back to believing God again!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Lisa and I had a TV interview yesterday in LaGrange with Diane Colson. Melody and Missy went with us and we all had a great time. Jack and Diane took us out to eat afterwards. We have fallen in love with them and I think the feeling is mutual. Diane wants us to come about 3 times a year to be on her show. We thank God for meeting precious new friends like Diane and Jack. We are praying that God will touch many lives through us, as people watch the show.

..........Monday afternoon, 6 of the ladies from "Hair Smithsonian" in McDonough came out to cut and style hair and do makeup for our ladies. We had the best time with them. They stayed all afternoon and stayed on as Diana came at 6 and brought some more ladies with her. We ate, Dara did two individual interpretive dances, and Dara and Missy did an interpretive dance together. Some of our ladies gave their testimonies. It was very touching. It was a great afternoon and night.

Website link: www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010

Babe Ruth! You've heard of him! His name is synonomous with baseball. With his great success and with his name being in the Baseball Hall of Fame, you would think he would feel just a little superior, just a cut above the average person. But, that's not what Babe Ruth thought. In fact, his idea of greatness was what he saw in a humble preacher that he knew and loved. He said this about this Godly preacher, "I've signed my name on hundreds of baseballs. He wrote his on human hearts."

Probably no one on earth today would recognize the name of this preacher. He didn't go down as an all-time great here on earth. He didn't achieve worldly fame or success. Oh, but he achieved something far, far greater than that! He went down in Heaven's Hall of Fame, where his name will be remembered throughout all eternity. Perhaps he is recorded there in heaven as "the man who wrote his name on human hearts."

Dear one, most of us will never make it into any Hall of Fame here on earth. But, we can all go down in Heaven's Hall of Fame. We can decide to be servants of Christ, ministering to others rather than being ministered to. We can visit the sick, the afflicted, the widows, the fatherless, and those in prison. We can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help provide for the homeless, and care for the dying. We can write notes and make phone calls to encourage the disheartened. We can love the unlovable and we can bring many to Christ.

More than likely, we will never be a physical Babe Ruth, but we can be a spiritual one. We can make the journey to home plate easier for others. We can sign our names on human hearts and we'll go down in Heaven's Hall of Fame for doing so!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We are getting two new ladies today, both of which their family members have been trying to get them into the P.H. for a long time...about 3 years. We are excited to finally be able to take them and watch the Lord transform their lives.

..........Christina just found out this weekend that her ex-husband and his wife got permanent custody of her three children and she has no rights whatsoever to them...no visitation, no phone calls, no rights. They had advertised in the paper about the court date and Christina did not know about it. The lawyer who offered to take her case pro bono started checking into her situation and found out that the court date just happened last week and, accordingto the courts, the decision is irreversible. Please pray for Christina. She is totally depending on the Lord. She will remain with the P.H. as part of our ministry team.

..........Christy Cato's husband, Chris, has pneumonia, so she will be staying home for a few days with him. Please pray for Chris.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com We will be putting all our video testimonies on the website if you would like to go back any time and look at them.

Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010

This is powerful. It was written by David Langerfeld.

I am a soldier in the army of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity, and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this Army or die in this Army. But, I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or be pushed out.

I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His Kingdom.

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army, I had nothing. So, if I end up with nothing, I will still come out even. I will win. My God will supply all my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier in the Army. I am marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around. I am a soldier, marching heaven bound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We had a productive day yesterday. Carrie went to court. Lisa went with her. She was sentenced to the P.H. rather than sending her to jail. We are very thankful for that!

..........Some ladies from the First Baptist of Griffin came yesterday. This is their first trip. We are excited that another church wants to become a part of our ministry.

..........Some ladies also came from Crossway Baptist Church in McDonough. This is their first trip. The Pastor's wife was one of the ladies. So, we are excited to have these precious folks join us in helping ladies have a new life.

Website: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:39:19 -0500

Delta pilot, how are you going to fly this big bird? By your feelings? "I feel like we're at the proper height now to level off." "I feel like we're going in the right direction." "I feel like it's time to lower the landing gear." "I feel like the runway is there, even though it's so foggy I cannot see it." " I feel like..."

Boy, I wouldn't want to get on a plane with a pilot like that! I'd want a pilot who flies by facts. I'd want one who spent countless hours studying manuals and learning everything about airplanes. I'd want a pilot who had been thoroughly trained in all aspects of the plane they will be flying. I would want one who knows every instrument and gauge inside and out. I'd want one who would fly by the facts, the data, the instruments, the gauges, etc. Their feelings wouldn't count when it comes to flying a plane.

Well, dear one, perhaps you have been running your life by your feelings. "I feel like I'm going in the right direction." "I don't feel like reading my Bible or praying much...I just don't have time." "I feel like I can lower my standards; after all, everybody is doing it and they're getting by just fine." "I feel like the Lord will bless me; He understands how hard it is nowadays and He will forgive and overlook the sin I'm involved in." "I feel....."

Christian pilot, you cannot run your life by feelings any more than a pilot can fly a plane by them. It won't work! You will eventually crash! You'd better get out the manual, God's Holy Word, and spend much time in learning the directions given by your Creator for running a life. It will tell you everything you need to know and will guide you safely to the eternal shores. Its gauges never fail. Its instruments never need repair. Its data is perfect.

So, friend, how do you intend to fly the plane of your life in 2010? Be feelings...or by facts?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Check out the newsletter today for Mary Edith's testimony. Two of you have told me you have trouble getting the video. If any of you are having trouble, e-mail Missy. She cannot open the video without doing a couple of things and she can tell you what she does. Her e-mail is mmcguire35@gmail.com. We want all of you to be able to open the videos. The one of Lisa last Friday was so, so, so powerful. This one today is powerful. We are planning lots of exciting videos in the future....with family members, graduates, etc.

Website: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010

Consider! All striped watermelons have 13 stripes. Every ear of corn has an even number of rows. A hummingbird flaps his wings at the rate of 262 times per second. Beans climb up and grow to the right. Peas climb up and grow to the left. Hurricanes all turn clockwise; typhoons turn counter-clockwise.

Consider! At the top of every egg, there is a small empty space. This little space contains just enough oxygen so that, when a baby chick gets ready to come out of its shell, it can stick its little beak into that space, get enough air to peck open the shell, and the rest is history.

Consider! Since God has created everything in the universe in such perfect order, don't you think He could do a much better job in ordering your life than you could? Don't you think you can trust a God like that? If so, let's just start off 2010 believing and trusting Him with all our hearts! It's high time we start living a life of faith that will show the world around us who our God really is!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Diane was homeless for 12 years before coming to the P.H. She hasn't had a relationship with her son in the last 14 years. She didn't even know where he was. Recently, we found out where he is and she has started corresponding with him. Yesterday, she received two pictures of him. On the back of one of them, he called her "Mom" and told her he loves her. She is beside herself with joy over this!

..........This group of girls are really getting good in their knowledge of the Bible. They even astound me many times. They spend much time in the Word and it shows! I thank God for what He is doing in all their lives! God has blessed us with ladies that are really serious about Him and about a completely different life than they have ever had.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010

Let me just share my heart with you this morning. I am really burdened for my country, as I know you probably are, too. We have left our first love. We have tried to eliminate God from our country. We have asked Him to get out of our schools, out of our government, out of our courts, and, in many cases, out of our churches and homes. And, our God, being the gracious gentleman that He is, has done exactly what we have asked Him to do and we are in a big mess!

We need, as never before, to be on our knees. The only hope for America is Jesus! We need a revival to shake this land. This morning, the Lord put this verse from Exodus 40:12, 13 on my heart. "Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve Me as priest."

Well, we are the priests in our day, according to I Peter 2:4-5 and 2: 9-10. We need to be washed thoroughly from our iniquities and cleansed from our sin. Then, we are robed with the righteousness of Christ. We are anointed and consecrated to be priests, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God in our day. It is a high and holy honor to be chosen. We need to take it seriously and start believing and obeying God. We need to call America back to God! We need to fast and pray, weep before the altar, and stay before God until He answers. Let's get serious about our royal priesthood. We are the only ones who get into God's presence and intercede before His holy throne!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Christina had a great surprise yesterday. A lawyer called her out of the blue and offered to help her try to get her children back...pro bono. She is so excited. It is very expensive to hire a lawyer to help in the legal matters involving children, so this is such a great praise to God.

...........I can't wait for you to see the video tomorrow on the newsletter. If it doesn't bring you to tears, you need to check your pulse.

Website: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 08:38:10 -0500

We're the church! We contain within us the hope for America! However, "many present day Christians seem to have experienced three stages; condemnation, salvation, and stagnation.

The early church was electrifying; he church today is electronic. The church fresh from the upper room invaded the world; now the church in the supper room is invaded by the world. The New Testament church did not depend on a moral majority, but rather on the holy minority. The church right now has more fashion than passion, is more pathetic than prophetic, is more superficial than supernatural.

The early church was a suffering church; today we have a sufficient church. Events in the Spirit-controlled church were amazing; in this day the church is often just amusing. The early church was identified with persecutions, prisons, and poverty; today many of us are identified with prosperity, popularity, and personalities." Leonard Ravenhill

We desperately, urgently need revival in our land! "Revivals are born in prayer. When Wesley prayed, England was revived; when Knox prayed, Scotland was refreshed; when the Sunday School teachers at Tanntybrook prayed, 11 thousand young people were added to the church in a year. Whole nights of prayer have always been succeeded by whole days of soul-winning.' J. Wilbur Chapman

"All true revivals have been born in prayer. When God's people become so concerned about the state of religion that they lie on their faces day and night in earnest supplication, the blessing will be sure to fall. If we will do our part, God will do His. Little prayer is the characteristic of a backslidden age and of a backslidden church. Whenever there is little praying in the pulpit or in the pew, spiritual bankruptcy is imminent and inevitable. Around us is a world lost in sin; above us is a God willing and able to save. It is our duty to build the bridge that links heaven and earth, and prayer is the mighty instrument that does the work." E.M. Bounds

Let's pray, y'all. Our nation is at stake!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Tomorrow, on the newsletter, we will have our first video. It is only about 20 seconds. The quality is not very good yet, since this is our first one. We will continue to improve on the videos. We want them to be first class. We want you to see and hear the girls personally tell what the Lord is doing in their lives. We are excited about doing the videos. We are going to try and do a video every Monday and every Friday.

..........We are excited about tomorrow...having the funeral service for all the things we want to bury from the past. We want to start off the new year, believing God for great and mighty things. We want to put the past behind and go blazing into 2010, with a passion and fervency for God as never before. Last night, Brother Jin Myers preached a powerful sermon from Matthew 18: 19-21. So, this year at the P.H., we want to do as Jesus said, "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Notice it doesn't say impossible for God; it says you." We're claiming that in 2010.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Date: Tue, 29 Dec 2009

Want a good verse to start off 2010 with? Well, here's one for you that really spoke to my heart yesterday. It includes four parts of our bodies and nine action verbs that we need to incorporate next year.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; keep your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:23-27.

We should guard, or protect, our hearts from anything harmful coming in or going out. A heart is the wellspring (the source of water for a well; or an inexhaustible source of supply). We don't want it to get polluted. We need to go into 2010 with clean lips...let's make sure that only fresh water comes from the fountain of our lips. We need to fix our gaze (not our glance) on the goal, which is the Lord Jesus Christ and not focus on our circumstances or on others. We need to walk on level paths, paths that our Lord has laid out before us, paths that won't bog us down or harm us. We need to walk that straight and narrow path and not go to the left or to the right of it.

These five verses would be good to live by in the coming year, don't you think? Five means grace (God' riches at Christ's expense.)

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We are spending this week searching our hearts. We are all writing down things that we want to leave behind as we go into the next year. Then, on Friday, we are going to have a funeral. We are going to go out into the yard and bury all those things we have written down and we are starting off 2010 new and fresh.

..........We thank all of you for making 2009 the best year the Potter's House has ever had. You all have gone above and beyond anything we could ever ask or think. We pray that God will richly bless you in the coming year! We pray together every day at 1:00......and we hold each of you up when we receive prayer requests from you. Please don't hesitate to let us know what to pray for, because we do take it seriously. E-mail us at phw@bellsouth.net with any prayer requests that you have!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com Missy has put new pictures on the "Pictures" page of the website.

Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2009

RUT-ITIS

It's the common cold of the spiritual life. Most everybody comes down with it some time or other in his spiritual walk. And, being quite contagious, it can spread rapidly, especially if one hangs around those that are infected with it. Generally, it starts out subtly, almost unnoticeably, but worsens progressively if untreated. It isn't usually fatal, but it certainly drains the spiritual life. It's called rut-itis!

Friend, have you come down with rut-itis this year? Has reading your Bible, praying, and going to church become so mundane that you just go through the motions mechanically? Have you somewhere along the way lost your passion for Christ, your ardent devotion, your overwhelming joy, your enthusiasm and zeal, and your effectiveness for the Lord?

If so, why don't you seek a cure for 2010? Three things are needed to cure rut-itis........a diagnosis, a desire, and a decision. First is the diagnosis. You need to evaluate your Christian walk in 2009. How does it compare with your desire and zeal when you first got saved. Have you left your first love? Second, you must have a desire to be cured of rut-itis. You must want, with all your heart, to be on fire for God again and to live that victorious, overwhelming, abundant Christian life. And third, you must make a decision. You must take the medicine prescribed by the Great Physician....a "will" pill. Repent of your coldness to the Lord, and by a sheer act of your will, step out on the Word of God. Begin to do what God's Word says, regardless of how you feel or what others think. Turn fact into act. Just get up and start living out what you already know!

Diagnose...desire...decide. That'll cure rut-itis and you can start off 2010 with a fresh, invigorating, passionate walk!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We will be sending the newsletter only 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) rather than 4, because it is pretty time consuming to get it ready. That will give Missy a day in between each one. I will continue to send the daily devotional 4 days a week.

..........Lisa has gone to Arkansas to be with her son and all her family. Christina went with her. They left Saturday and will be back next Saturday. Julie and Kelley are staying at the P.H. while Lisa is gone.

..........All the girls are back. They all had a great time with their families over the holidays. They had some awesome things to happen while they were gone. They were excited, because, with all the gift cards they got for Christmas, they were able to use all their money to buy presents for their families.....which most of them had not been able to do for years.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Wed, 23 Dec 2009

Merry

Christmas!

From the Potter's House to yours, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas! We pray that the Lord will bless you and make His face shine upon you!

We want to thank all of you who have loved us and supported us in 2009. You will never know how many lives you have helped change for eternity. We have no words to express our gratitude to each of you for making it possible for us to have a place where our lives can be forever changed. God bless you forever!

This will be the last newsletter we will be sending out until next Monday. We will see you again next week!

We love you very much! And we thank God every day for you!

22 Dec 2009

He chopped down all the thorns and thistles! He removed all the big rocks! He was preparing the way! That's what a good shepherd does....he prepares the way for the sheep, as he guides them to the high places to new, fresh pastureland. And all that the little sheep have to do is follow. If they walk behind the shepherd, staying in the path that he has cleared for them, their journey is so much easier. But, if they veer to the left or to the right, they'll get stuck in thorn bushes and potholes and will have a much more frustrating and tedious journey!

We could certainly take some lessons from the sheep. We, too, have a Shepherd that has prepared the Way for us. He has gone before us and made the crooked places straight. He simply wants to take us to higher ground, to rich spiritual pastureland. He wants us to breathe celestial air, to drink from the Brook that never runs dry, to feast on food that no one knows.

And, like the sheep, all we have to do is follow, to stay in the path He has cleared for us, and not veer to the right or to the left. However, we seem to have a big problem with that little word, "follow." We think we can clear our own path. We think we can do it our way. We think we can follow afar off, making sure He is in sight, but yet still keeping one foot in the pasture we just got out of.

And, guess what? We stray off the straight and narrow path and find ourselves tangled up in the thorn bushes of life. We get bruised and battered from falling in the potholes of sin and from tripping over the big rocks of discouragement and depression. We get stuck in the mire of self and finally just lose sight of the path.

Today is a good day to get back on the straight and narrow path. Let's decide in 2010 to follow the Shepherd with all our hearts. He's already gone before us into the new year. He has already cleared the way. He has already removed the hindrances. So....come on. Let's follow Him!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Diana Cowan came over last night and brought several new people that have never been to the P.H. Barry and Andy from "Altaration" came and sang for us. Dara performed two of her most powerful dances. The girls shared brief testimonies. We had pizza; we sang and shared and cried and had a wonderful time. Thank you, Diana, for your faithfulness to us through all these years!

..........We had a visit yesterday from one of my friends from years ago, Debby Sheets and her daughter, Katrina. I haven't seen Debby in about 22 years. It was great being with them and catching up on years gone by. Thank God for friends who are still there after so many years. Katrina wants to come back and even spend the night. We will be looking forward to that!

..........Jan Roberts came yesterday and brought Gloria, our new 81 year old friend. Gloria brought gifts for all the girls. She put them on their beds while we were having group so it would be a surprise to them when they went to their rooms. We love Jan and Gloria and all the Legacy Group who have made such a difference in all our lives!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:50:00 -0500

THIS CHRISTMAS.......LOOK UP!

...The first time, Jesus came as a baby; the next time, He's coming as a mighty King!

...The first time, He came as a Lamb; the next time, He's coming as a Lion!

...The first time, He came as Savior; the next time, He's coming as Lord!

...The first time, He came as Deliverer; the next time, He's coming as the Judge!

...The first time, His appearance was announced; the next time, He will come as a thief in the night!

...The first time He came, He was rejected; the next time, He will be exalted!

...The first time, He came in lowliness; the next time, He's coming in grandeur!

...The first time He came, He was crucified; the next time, He will be crowned!

...The first time He came, He was the Seed; the next time, He will be the Harvest!

...The first time, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes; the next time, he will be clothed in a vesture dipped in blood!

...The first time, most people didn't even acknowledge Him; the next time, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord!

...The first time, there was no room for Him; the next time, the heaven of heavens will not be able to contain Him!

...The first time, He was under the rule of the government; the next time, He Himself will be the government!

So, don't look for a baby in a manger this year. Don't look for a little Lamb. Instead, look up. Look to the heavens, for the Lord Jesus Christ may be coming sooner than any of us think! As the Word says, "Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh."

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

.........The girls all went to Buckner's last night. We have a standing invitation to come once a month and eat for free. What a blessing the people at Buckner's are to us! We love you all and thank God for you!

..........IMPORTANT! On Constant Contact, you can right click on any single picture and copy it and paste it on Microsoft Word or on another program on your computer. Or, you can right click and save it under your pictures. Or you can right click and print any picture on it. Also, we will be starting short video clips soon!

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com We have some new pictures...on Home Page and on The Ministry Team Page.

Tue, 15 Dec 2009

The greatest gift ever given was not put under the tree. It was put on the tree.

The greatest gift ever given was not wrapped in beautiful paper. It was wrapped in human flesh.

The greatest gift ever given was not bought with money. it was bought with blood.

The greatest gift ever given was not admired and appreciated by the majority. It was rejected by them.

The greatest gift ever given was not given out of obligation, peer pressure, or tradition. It was not given out of a desire for recognition, reward, approval, or reimbursement. Oh, no. The greatest gift ever given was given out of absolute, unconditional, unexplainable love.

God gave us such a gift. He gave Himself! He wrapped His gift in blood-stained robes, with a crown of thorns on top. Oh, there's never been another gift like this one. This gift doesn't bring just temporary pleasure...this gift lasts forever. Have you ever received this gift? If not, today would be a great day to do so. God gave the greatest gift, but it will never be yours until you receive it.

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The ladies from Rock Springs came to the P.H. last night. We had a great time. We ate some delicious food, which Christina and Kristy worked on all day. They did an outstanding job. Dara did a couple of dances and gave each of the girls a gift. They were so excited. They all got $85 gift cards to Kohl's. We are going shopping tomorrow for them to use their gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, and Kohl's to buy presents for their families. Thank all of you or loving the girls and being so good to them. We love you all!

14 Dec 2009

SORRY.......NO ROOM!

By Cherrie Burdeshaw

"Knock, knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Joseph and Mary. Can you give us a place for Jesus, the Savior, to be born?"

"Sorry.......no room!"

"Knock, knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Joseph and Mary. Can you give us a place to hide our son, since Herod is killing all the children under two years old?"

"Sorry.......no room!"

"Knock, knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Jesus. Can I come into your cities and teach you the Way to the Father?"

"Sorry.......no room!"

"Knock, knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Jesus. It's My birthday. Can I come into your heart and home and celebrate My birth with you?"

"Sorry.......no room!"

"Knock, knock!"

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Lord. My life is over. Here I am now. Can I please come into Your home and live with You forever?"

"Sorry.......no room!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Wow! Wow! Wow! We had a most wonderful surprise. Read this letter written to us. "On behalf of the sisters of Sigma Alpha Omega, we would like to present the beautiful ladies of the Potter's House with this check for $3,000. Our girls were deeply touched by the pictures and testimonies on your website and voted to present our semester's tithe to this ministry. Sigma Alpha Omega is the only Christian sorority on UGA's campus. Our sisterhood prides itself on service, excellence and love throuh life in Christ, all of which we hope to bless this ministry with. From our sisterhood to yours, The sisters of Sigma Alpha Omega." Wow....why can't things like this make the news instead of all the killing, stealing, lying, etc.?

..........The Lord continues to bless the P.H. We received another check for $3000 plus some other monies from different individuals. Perhaps He is preparing us for another house. It won't be long before we will need one. We are just waiting on Him for directions.

Website link: http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Fri, 11 Dec 2009

THEY EXPECTED.....BUT INSTEAD!

A Christmas Story by Cherrie

There was silence! God was getting ready to go to earth! Wide-eyed with awe, the angels watched as the Holy One laid aside all His royal garments. They gasped as He left the splendors and beauty and comfort of His heavenly home to go to one little seemingly insignificant ball in the universe.

As they peered over the bannisters of heaven, the angels expected their Mighty King to be heralded by a royal fanfare of golden trumpets.....but instead, He was greeted with the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep. They expected the Most High One to be adorned with royal, majestic robes, fashioned from the most elegant and exquisite material on earth.....but instead He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. The expected the red carpet to be rolled out for the entrance of the Highest Dignitary in the universe.....but instead, there was a bed of smelly straw, dotted with the doppings of nearby animals to greet Him. They expected a palace of indescribable beauty to be provided for the King of kings and Lord of lords.....but instead, there was no room for Him anywhere except in a lowly stable.

Baffled, the angels watched as the inhabitants of the little ball went on eating and drinking and making merry as though nothing had changed. Didn't they know that God had come to earth? Didn't they care that the King of Glory had landed on their shores?

Slightly over 2000 years have passed and things haven't changed much. They didn't want Him then.....and they still don't want Him now. They didn't recognize His presence then.....and they still don't recognize it now. They had no room for Him then.....and they still have no room for Him now.

What about you this Christmas, dear one? Are you heralding His birth with the high praises from your lips? Are you offering Him your body as a holy dwelling place? Are you rolling out the red carpet of love and adoration for Him? Once again, its Christmas. They expected.....but instead. Will this year be just another rerun?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........I hope you have opened the new format for pictures. They really look great! Missy is doing an awesome job! Most of the updates will now be with the pictures. Let us know what you think.

..........Check out the website. Changes have been made. http://www.pottershouseforwomen.com

Dec 7, 2009

A ZEDEKIAH OR A MICAIAH CHRISTIAN?

Beware! Be very careful, Christian! Just because someone claims to be of God doesn't mean that he is! In II Chronicles 18, we see two prophets, who both claimed to know God, but who had entirely different messages. Zedekiah prophesied victory and peace, proclaiming that everything was fine, even though Ahab was neck deep in idolatry. Zedekiah was a health and wealth preacher.

Micaiah, on the other hand, prophesied the death of Ahab, the king. Many thought Micaiah to be narrow minded and pessimistic...a doom and gloom preacher. Zedekiah even mocked Micaiah by slapping him in the face. However, Micaiah was the true prophet, telling the truth rather than what the king wanted to hear. Micaiah's message was the one that came to pass. The Bible says the test of a true prophet of God is that ALL his prophecies come true. There was a "lying spirit in the mouth of all the (other) prophets," including Zedekiah.

Today, just turn on the TV and you can see Zedekiah Christians by the handfuls. The Micaiah ones are said to be old fashioned and out of touch with our society. They're scarcer than hen's teeth. Oh, for some holy men of God who will stand up today and preach the Word of God without compromise, who will call America back to her knees, who will call sin for exactly what it is, who have a volcano in their souls over the state of our world.

God didn't tell us to take up our bed of health and prosperity and follow Him. He said to take up our cross daily and follow Him. And the cross means only one thing---death. Death to the flesh! Stick to the old rugged cross, dear one. Don't get sidetracked! Forsake the Zedekiah Christians and find some Micaiah ones and join them in their desperate cries for God to send revival to our sin-soaked land!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

Today's the day. We are starting Constant Contact. In a little while, you will receive the first one. It will say From: "Potter's House For Women;" Subject: "News from Potter's House for Women." You will have to click to see the pictures. Do not be afraid to click to open the pictures. Many ministries use Constant Contact. Eagles Landing Baptist Church is one of them.

We are going to this format, because there are a lot of people who cannot open the pictures we send every day. Hopefully, this will solve that problem.

Let us know what you think!

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009

"Don't preach again on being dead to the world until you have victory over it yourself," the Lord had told Rees Howells. Rees realized how much of the world was still in him when the Lord asked him to do something that was totally unheard of in those days. The Lord told him to leave his house without wearing a hat. No respected man would dare think of doing such a thing! And yet that was what God was asking.

Through this training, Rees came to realize that God was in the process of helping him put his respectable self-nature to death. He was asking Rees to reckon himself dead unto the world, dead unto what others thought. As each hint of self was brought up, Rees had to deal with it in cold blood, realizing that his "dead" self could have no part of such things ever again. And, one by one, he surrendered each area in total abandonment to the Lordship of Christ.

Well, Lord, I see the same thing working in me. I realize you are trying to help me put my respectable self-nature to death. But, I have a big problem. Instead of reckoning my old man dead, I tend to resurrect him instead and cave in to his wishes. When he cries for food, I eat. When he whines about being sleepy, I sleep. When he's afraid of what others might think or say, I back down. When he doesn't like something, I grumble. I just pamper and pet him and give him everything he wants as though he is my master.

Well, I am sick of him! I have realized that my old man makes a good slave, but he makes a poor master. So, I will be in control from now on. I will tell him what to do. I will deal with him in cold blood, reckoning rather than resurrecting. He's dead and I'm going to start living like it!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The Lord is working mightily at the P.H. Here's what all has happened in the last month:

+++Gloria, 81, got saved after coming to the P.H. She said that she experienced the power of God like never before. She realized that she didn't have what the P.H. ladies have...and got saved, even after teaching Sunday School for years.

+++Two young people rededicated their lives to Christ after coming to the P.H. to do a video production on our home.

+++A young lady who came to the P.H. with Diana Cowan was really touched and is bringing the people who work with her at Hair Smithsonian to the P.H.

+++A lady from the drug task force who busted Christina came to the P.H. Dina said her son had been asking and asking her to go to church with him. After seeing Christina and the girls, she went to church the next day with her son and rededicated her life to the Lord. She said she thought she was coming to help Christina, but found out she was coming for Christina to help her.

+++Gloria Gaither called the P.H. and got 23 tickets for us for the Gaither Homecoming Tour tonight in Duluth.

+++Lisa had a previous commitment today to take a friend for eye surgery at 11 and it would not be possible for her to go with us tonight. Yesterday, we prayed that the surgery would be rescheduled so Lisa could go. They called yesterday afternoon and said they would like to reschedule the surgery for 7 this morning. Isn't God awesome?

+++One of my dear friends, Joyce Bean, by God's providence (long story) has been corresponding with someone in Anne Graham Lotz' ministry, AnGel Ministries. They have gone on our website and here is their response, "I appreciate the website for the Potter's House and have taken the time to read the amazing testimonies and see the transformation of the women facing substance and physical abuse. Your ministry is one of great need, and we would like to send you Anne's "My Jesus Is Everything" book and "My Heart's Cry" CD to be shared among the women walking through your doors for help.

+++Yesterday, I received an e-mail from a lady named Jill Wilcox, who is the marketing representative for the Atlanta Postal Credit Union. She has just recently heard about us and wants to bring some ladies from her church. Also, next year, they will be giving to the Potter's House for their charitable donation from work.

God is really at work! We give Him all the glory. For some reason, He is choosing to pour out His glory on the P.H. right now. And we thank Him with all our hearts!

Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009

Wow! Wow! Wow, wow, wow! I stand in awe of the Lord today! I just want to share with you what He is doing, because it is awesome! Monday night, Diana Cowan came and brought some ladies. One of them, a 27 year old, works at Hair Smithsonian. She was blown away by the P.H. She told Diana, "There is something in my heart...a feeling that I can't describe" after being in the meeting. She went to work yesterday and told all the people who work there about the P.H. They all are excited about it and are coming out on Dec. 21st. We are praying for the salvation of all these young people. I am going to bring a short message on salvation and have an altar call that night.

And, last night, I received a call from a 24 year old in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was searching on the web for deliverance ministries and somehow found us....even though we are not listed on any search engine. You have to type in our web address to find us. We talked for 45 minutes. She is living in total fear...says she is so scared to go to sleep. She is afraid she has committed the unpardonable sin. She told me she thinks she is demon possessed. She has been into witchcraft, drugs, prostitution, etc. She also told me that she is afraid God has turned her over to a reprobate mind. Wow...in 45 minutes, I explained so much stuff to her! At the end, we both got down in the floor and I told her that we were going to pray and I wanted her to commit and surrender her entire life, soul, heart, mind, body, everything to the Lord Jesus Christ. She said she wanted to. "But first," she said, "I want to confess all my sins." So, she proceeded to confess everything from witchcraft to sexual stuff...and then we prayed. She said she meant the prayer...that she gave everything to Him from this day forward. Her name is Faith. She will be on my daily e-mail after today. She wants to come to the P.H.....we don't have a bed right now. So, please pray for Faith. This was God's Divine providence!

God is moving mightily. That is my heart's desire...that He would use us at the P.H. to reach multitudes of people!

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a wonderful and blessed time! Let's keep Jesus at the center!

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009

Following along behind them, he was wide-eyed with wonder, thinking about the adventure that lay just ahead. His little mind had been actively at work, picturing himself exploring all those underground tunnels his friends said they had discovered. What a shock he received upon arrival at the big, open field, as he stood helplessly by while they all laughed at him. It only took a split second for my husband, then a young boy of about 10, to realize that there were no tunnels after all. He hung his head as he trudged away. He walked away from the scene, but that scene never walked away from him. It was no fun to be deceived!

Most of us have discovered that awful, soul-wrenching feeling that comes with waking up to deception! Nobody likes to be deceived. However, multitudes of people today are deceived spiritually. They think they are saved because they said a sinner's prayer; they had a wonderful spiritual experience; they were baptized; they joined a church; they are good; etc. They follow the devil like a pied piper, secure in their minds that they are on their way to heaven. How sad it will be when they reach the end of their lives, only to discover the minute they draw their last breath that it's not heaven after all. At that moment, they will know the truth and realize that they have been deceived!

Friend, don't be led out into that open field of the devil's lies. There are no tunnels underneath! Instead, get in God's Word and find out what He says...and do it. Don't depend on what others say. Don't depend on what you feel or think. Trust God's holy Word. If you want to know that you know that you are saved, read the little book of I John, in which you will find the word "know" about 32 times. It is written so that you may "know" that you have eternal life. (First John 5:13) Line your life up with this Word and you can "know!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Rob, Jennifer's boyfriend, is in school for media production. He and 4 friends have a major project that they are to do together to present in January. They are doing a documentary on the Potter's House. They all came out recently to look at the house, to meet the girls, and to ask a lot of questions. After leaving, two of them rededicated their lives to the Lord, due to the Lord showing Himself through our ladies. We thank God for using us to make a difference in other lives.

..........Genora and Mimi spent Saturday night with Tommy and Lori. This situation is working out beautifully, thanks to our Heavenly Father. Mimi loves Tommy and Lori already and is excited about this.

Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009

In the stillness! In the quietness! Just before dawn, it falls! It provides nourishment and refreshment, as it blankets the ground. The precious dew from heaven awakens the morning with its message of God's unfailing love. Even sheep get much of their life-sustaining water from this early morning dew!

This morning, when my alarm so rudely interrupted my sleep, my body started putting in its two-cents worth about how tired and in need of sleep it was. But, then, my soul retaliated with its desperate cries of thirst for the Lord. As I arose and began my early morning tryst with my Savior, He spoke so sweetly to me out of Psalm 143. It was just what my parched soul needed. It was the early morning dew to my soul! It brought nourishment and refreshment and I received the life-sustaining water of the Word to begin my day with.

Friend, maybe this dew will refresh you today also. "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You, I lift up my soul. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For Your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in Your righteousness, bring me out of trouble."

Thank You, precious Heavenly Father, for providing the early morning dew. There's nothing like it! This sheep cannot survive without it! Wow! What I would miss if I listened to the protests from my body and caved in to what it wanted! Thank You, Lord, for the priceless early morning dew!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........On the pictures which will follow this e-mail, there is a picture of Gloria, a lady from Eagle's Landing Baptist Church in McDonough. This group of ladies have faithfully come to the P.H. once a month, every month, for about 4 years now. Gloria just moved here and came with the group to the P.H. She was really overwhelmed when she came. She just got saved at 81 and told us her story. She has been in church. She has taught Sunday School. But, she told us she had never felt the presence of the Lord until she came through the doors of the P.H. She realized that she did not have what these girls have. Praise the Lord for using our ladies in the salvation of an 81 year old precious life!

..........Thank all of you who have been bringing food donations. They are coming in. What a difference this makes, as we have 57 meals a day right now to provide. (19 ladies x 3 meals a day.) We pray that God will abundantly bless all of you who so graciously help provide for our girls.

Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:02:02 -0500

Terrified! Distressed! Panicky! He was plummeting headlong toward the ground! How could his mother possibly do this to him? Why, just a few seconds before, his mama had flown out over the deep canyon with him on her back. The wind on his face excited him. The flight stirred something deep in his soul. But then...she turned upside down. He held on as long as he could, but the force of gravity tore his claws from her back. And here he was...falling!

What the little eaglet didn't know was that his mother could fly faster than he could fall. She swooped under him and caught him on her back before he hit the ground. Quite to his surprise, this same process was repeated over and over. Until...until, as he nose-dived one more time, he suddenly began to flap those things that were on the side of his body. And, he discovered that those things, called wings, could keep him airborne. Wow! What a discovery! He had wings all along but didn't know how to use them until he was thrown off a cliff and forced to use what he received at his physical birth!

Friend, do you feel like you have been thrown off a cliff of your circumstances today? Do you wonder how God could possibly do something like this to you? Have you been plummeting downward? Are you terrified? Distressed? Panicky?

Well, dear one! Take heart! God has not abandoned you! He has put you into these circumstances to force you to use the things He gave you at your spiritual birth. You don't even know what all you received at this birth until you are put in situations that compel you to act? Then....you discover something wonderful that you could have learned in no other way! So, rejoice, treasured one, and allow your loving Heavenly Father to teach you how to fly!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........I asked you to pray for Stephanie, a 25 year old young lady, who graduated from the P.H. in 2007. She has been in college for Criminal Justice and has made the Dean's List every quarter. She also has been working and has become the manager of a Dollar General. Because she has done so well, yesterday in court, they revoked her 5 year probation. This is a real powerful testimony to the grace of God! We love you, Stephanie!

..........We have a full house and are in need of another home. We are having so many applicants that we cannot keep up with them! We interviewed a precious lady Monday that is homeless and broken, but we have no beds. It broke all the girls' hearts that we have nowhere for her. We are having to put everyone on a waiting list and we don't like to do that. Some of these ladies are desperate and won't make it if they have to wait. Please pray for another house for us soon!

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009

Unseen! Unheard! Unfelt! Silent! Invisible! Inaudible. Yet, they are all around you. They're in your home, in the office, in the malls. They're everywhere! They're in America, China, Australia, the North Pole. Everywhere! You would have no way of knowing that they are real, however, without having a proper receptacle for them. That receptacle is a TV set. It picks up those invisible, inaudible, unfelt waves that occupy the air space everywhere and makes them visible and audible to you.

Just like those TV waves, our God is everywhere, too. He is all around us. Yet, He is invisible to our human eyes and inaudiable to our human ears. In order to receive Him, we must have the proper receptacle. That receptacle is our spirit, which is nonfunctioning until salvation, at which time it is made alive to God. It's kind of like having a TV set that doesn't pick up anything until it's turned on. The TV set is there, the TV waves are all around, but the set must be turned on. Likewise, our spirits must be turned on...they are dead to God's air waves until the Holy Spirit comes in and makes them alive.

Perhaps, today, your spirit is dead to God. Oh, you know by looking around that there must be a God, but you don't know Him. You can't see Him, hear Him, or feel Him; therefore, you aren't really sure that He is real. Oh, friend, if this is you, you need a receptacle. You need to be saved. Your spirit needs to be turned on. And, then, oh, you won't believe what you will begin to see and hear spiritually. God will become more real to you than even the physical world all around you. Give your heart and soul to the Lord today. He's much better than any TV!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Last night was awesome. Dara and her "Just For Jehovah" dancers had the evening service at Rock Springs. Dara gave her testimony and she and the girls did several interpretive dances. There's no way to describe this! Dara's whole heart and soul go into this and you can really feel it. It had a powerful impact on the whole church. Many people came to the altar...many got saved and others came to repent and return to the Lord. It just melted my heart, as I thought of 4 years ago when Dara came to the P.H....skinny, scared, struggling with addiction to crack cocaine. Oh, to see her today! It fills my heart with joy, as I watch her ministering to those young girls that dance with her....10, 12, 13 years old. Oh, what an impact she is having on them! I thank God for all that He has done and is doing in Dara's life.

..........Also, one of our ministry team ladies, Missy , dances with Dara. Missy is always devoted and committed to whatever she undertakes. She has been a blessing to us at the P.H. We thank God for all He is doing in Missy's life...and in her families' lives as well.

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009

I'm not very big and I may not look very important! However, don't be fooled by my appearance. I actually am one of the most important things around most households, particularly to the men-folks. They just love me! In fact, when they walk into their living room, I am usually one of the first things they head for. And, once they get their hands on me, they don't let me go easily!

You know, I could really get the big head and brag if I wanted to, especially seeing how important I am to the man of the house. However, I am occasionally brought back to reality when my batteries go dead! It makes me realize once again that, without batteries, I have no power. I can do nothing without them! I'm totally useless in that state! And, besides that, I can't do anything without someone picking me up, pointing me at a TV, and pushing one of my buttons. So, I'm actually at folks' mercy. I'm really not my own, you know. I am simply a tool in the hands of the user! That's the way all us remote controls are!

Christian, we could look at ourselves the same way! We are God's little remote controls. As long as we stay in the Word and in prayer and in fellowship with other believers, we can keep our power source, the Holy Spirit, charged up. Then, God can pick us up and use us to His heart's desire. However, we, too, must always keep in mind that we are not our own and that we can do absolutely nothing apart from the Lord, our source. We are His to do with exactly as He pleases. So, that should eliminate all boasting, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction, pride, etc. We are simply tools in the hands of the User, Almighty God! We are God's little remote controls!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We just got a new girl yesterday, Teresa. She got saved this morning. Lisa led her to Christ. So, we are praying that Teresa can get her brand new life started and that God will do a mighty work in her.

..........Please pray for one of our 2006 graduates, Stephanie. She has been in school, making Dean's List every quarter. She is the manager of a Dollar General in Newnan. She has been going to school for a degree in Criminal Justice. She will be finishing her classes in January and starting her internship at the Sheriff's Department. Then, she will graduate in April. Tomorrow morning at 9, she will be going for a hearing on the possible termination of her probation, due to her excellence in every area of her life for the last three years. We are so proud of Stephanie!

..........Last night, our friends from Eagle's Landing came over. We had such an awesome time. These women are like family to us. We have grown so close to them. We just love them to death and thank God for their continued, faithful love and support of the P.H.

Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009

Three little words. But, then, God doesn't need a lot of words to get His message across. Three's enough! Three words can speak a powerful, life-changing, eternity-changing message if we will only heed them. "Remember Lot's wife."

Lot's wife reluctantly got out of Sodom, but she didn't get Sodom out of her. Even after being told by the angels that God was going to destroy Sodom and after being led by the hand out of this wicked city by the angels, she still looked back. She longed for the things she left behind. She couldn't bear the thought of giving up her wordly, carnal, pleasure-filled life. She didn't want to let go of her standing in society. She wanted to stay in Sodom! But, in her desire to save her life for herself and what she wanted, she, in turn, lost it!

Friend, "Remember Lot's wife." When you start dallying around with the world, enjoying the same things the world enjoys, going the same places the world goes, talking and acting like the world around you, "Remember Lots' wife." When you settle down into a comfort zone, not wanting to change, not wanting to be dedicated and devoted to God, "Remember Lot's wife." When you want to do your own thing, live your life the way you want, and be your own boss, "Remember Lot's wife."

Today, dear one, if you're in Sodom, you'd better get out and not look back! Give your whole heart and life to Christ and allow Him to take complete control. Get out of Sodom and get Sodom out of you! "Remember Lots' wife!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

...........Yesterday was awesome! We recieved a check for $5,000. We were all so excited. We have been praying for more funds, because we need another vehicle...among other things. We praise God for this money and for the one who so graciously provided it. I will be praying and seeking God about what to do with it, because I do not want to use any money for anything other than what the Lord says to use it for! He sent it...and He knows what He wants us to do with it!

...........Yesterday, we had a couple to come from Pine Mountain, near Columbus, to see our home and our program. She has a TV program on a local station and wants us to come in January to tell about our ministry. We will have 30 minutes. We will be looking forward to this.

..........Tomorrow, we will have a booth at the Health Fair at Eagle's Landing Baptist Church. We will be showing our video from a lap top. We will also have the before and after pictures of the girls and some other info. We hope to get a lot more e-mail addresses, so we can add to our daily list. If you'd like to come to the Health Fair, it is open for everyone. You can get free health screenings for many areas that are potentially dangerous to your health.

Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:51:43 -0500

You turn on TV and it's nothing but bad news! You get on the highway and have to watch out for road rage! You stand in a line and listen to mostly grumbling and venting! Everywhere you go, you're rushed, pushed, shoved, and trying to meet deadlines! It's madness! It's crazy!

If you're like me, sometimes you wish could just say, "Stop the world and let me get off!" Well, this morning I decided to do just that! I'm getting off! I don't like the merry-go-round! And, you know what...I don't have to stay on it! I don't have to go with the world! I am going to choose a different route today!

Today, I'm going to see if I can make somebody laugh! I'm going to encourage someone! I'm going to be a blessing to someone! I'm going to think about ways I can make other people's lives lighter and better today. I'm going to enjoy the journey...and I want to help others enjoy it, too. Won't you join me?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........If you know of anyone who would be interested in being on our daily e-mail list, please let us know. I think you are really going to be pleased when you start getting the "Constant Contact" every day. Missy is working on it...learning more about it. It is a program that big businesses use. There is so much to it! We can't wait until we can start sending you short, 1 minute videos of the girls, along with the daily pictures! And the neat thing about it is that we can have thousands and thousands of people on it.

..........Please pray for Genora. There is a really tough family situation. God is working out the details in an amazing way. We will tell you more about it later.

Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009

Searching for God's will in a particular area? Wondering what to do? Well, the following was written by George Mueller, one of the greatest men of faith who ever lived. He founded many orphanages and it is said that over 7 million dollars came through his hands in his lifetime. Yet, he never asked for one penny. It all came through prayer alone!

"How I ascertain the will of God: I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is right here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

Having surrendered my own will, I do not leave the result to feeling or simply impressions. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If the Holy Spirit guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of His Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly."

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Today, I am going to start recording my book, "Even Weeds Have Flowers" on CD's. This is in lieu of publishing the book again, which would cost me over $4000 up front. When finished, it will be a set of 12 CD's, one CD for each month of the year. You can put it in your car and listen to the devotional for the current day of the month or however you would like to listen to it. There will be soft music playing in the background as I read each devotional. I am very excited about this.

..........We have a new girl, Miranda , from Albany, Georgia. Please pray for her as she gets settled into her new life at the P.H.

..........Last night, we all went to the Dairy Queen in Forsyth for Brother Benny's birthday. We had a great time. We love our Pastor so much. He has been such a blessing to the P.H. in more ways than we could even begin to name. He loves the P.H. and has had a tremendous part in our whole ministry! We thank God for him and pray that our Father will continue to pour out His Spirit and anointing on him.

Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009

He was just 16 and had accepted his first job, which was in Glasgow. His home was about 6 miles from the big city. Between his home and Glasgow, there was a deep ravine that was supposed to be haunted. Some really terrible things had happened in it and he was afraid to go through it even in the day time. At night, it was out of the question.

On Monday morning, his father walked with him to work and in parting, said, "Alec, come home as fast as you can when you get off Saturday night." Thinking of the ravine, Alexander Maclaren said he answered his father, "Father, I will be awfully tired Saturday night. I will come home early Saturday morning." But his father was adamant. "No, Alec. You have never been away from home before, and these 5 days are going to seem like a year to me. Come home Saturday night." Reluctantly, Alec answered, "All right, Father."

All week long, Alec worried about the ravine. When Saturday night came, he wrapped up his belongings and headed out. He said, "I whistled to keep up my courage, but when I looked down into that inky blackness, I knew I couldn't go. The tears came unbidden, and then suddenly I heard footsteps in the ravine coming up the path. I started to run, but hesitated, for those footsteps were very familiar. Up out of the darkness, into the pale light, as I watched, came the head and shoulders of the grandest man on earth. He was bound to have known I was scared, but he only said, "Alec, I wanted to see you so badly that I came to meet you.' So, shoulder to shoulder, we went down into that valley and I was not afraid of anything."

Christian, perhaps you, too, are afraid. There's a big black ravine of uncertainty looming up ahead in your life. The future is so insecure, so unstable, so fragile, yet you have no choice but to travel down its path. You feel so vulnerable, so alone, so full of doubts and fears. Oh, dear one, hold your head up high and start down that path. You'll see, coming up out of that inky blackness, the grandest and greatest One who's ever lived! He wants to see you so badly that He'll come to meet you. He'll put His arm around you and walk with you every step of the way. Oh, child, you need never fear, for your Heavenly Father is always near!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We are getting ready to start the Constant Contact, probably next week. I wanted to give everyone a chance to know what we are going to do before we start. Some people don't open their e-mails every day, so I will probably be saying something more than once this week.

..........I will send the daily devotionals out as usual...just like this one. However, the pictures and updates will be on Constant Contact. On your e-mail, it will say, From: Potter's House For Women; Subject: News from Potter's House For Women. You will have to click to download pictures. Everyone should be able to open the pictures. If you have any problems, just let me know and I will call Constant Contact and find out what to do.

Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:44:05 -0500

Drive out all the inhabitants! That's what the Lord had told the Israelites as they entered the Promised Land, where the Canaanites were already dwelling. He told them not to leave a single person in the land, not even a woman or a child. If they failed to drive out all the inhabitants, God had said that these foreigners would become thorns in their sides and their gods would become a snare unto them.

Well, the children of Israel did not obey! And God's anger was kindled against them. He would not drive out the inhabitants, but left them in the land to teach warfare to the children of Israel. In other words, because they wouldn't drive out all the inhabitants, then the Israelites were always in a battle, always struggling, always fighting battles that were there because they hadn't gotten rid of the inhabitants!

What about you, dear one? Have you driven out all the inhabitants in your life? Have you driven out even all the children: all those little things; all those things that seem innocent; all those strongholds; all those things that don't seem terribly sinful, yet they are really not Christ-honoring? If you haven't driven them out, then don't think that God will! He has told you to do that! If you don't, they will become a thorn in your side and a snare, or trap, unto you. And you will fight continuous battles in your life that are totally unnecessary!

Let's make today a driving out day! Let's drive out everything that is occupying territory in our lives that doesn't need to be there! Let's take back the land God promised to us! Let's make up our minds once and for all that there is no place in our lives for the inhabitants that were dwelling there already when we got saved and entered the Promised Land. I'm putting on my "shooing" shoes and I'm getting ready to "shoo" off some things that have got to go!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Jennifer has been coming over and helping us with some technical stuff. The Lord always sends us somebody that knows a lot more about this stuff than we do. We thank God for sending her. She will be bringing over the equipment today for me to record on (from the recording studio that she started a while back.) We are planning on putting my book, Even Weeds Have Flowers" on CD's. We are out of books and we have people asking for them. However, it would cost me almost $5000 to have them reprinted and we cannot afford that. So, this would be an alternative that doesn't cost us anything up front. We are really excited about this!

Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009

We are all familiar with the saying, "What you see is what you get." Well, that's not exactly true. Lisa came up with another saying this morning that is so much more appropriate. "What you sow is what you get." For her early morning devotional with the girls, Lisa took a beautifully wrapped present into the Esther Room. One of the girls opened the gift, expecting to find something great...only to discover one paper clip in the bottom. Lisa told them, "What you see is not what you get!"

The Bible tells us, "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap." If a man sows corn, he gets corn. If he sows wheat, he gets wheat. If he sows wild oats, he gets wild oats. The law of sowing and reaping is a natural law as well as a spiritual one.

So, let's put the law into practice today. Let's get in our garden of life and start sowing some good seeds. If we want love, sow love. If we want peace, sow peace. If we want joy, sow joy. If we want to be blessed by others, then we should be a blessing to others. Remember: What you sow is what you get! What are you growing in your garden of life today?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We want to thank all of you who have responded to our requests about the food. We are so excited to have help with this. It will be such a blessing to me, as it is getting more difficult for me to buy all the groceries every week. My husband and I spend every Saturday at Sam's, Wal-Mart, and other places that we have to go to get supplies for the P.H. He has back problems and is unable to help me with some of it. He cannot lift the 50 pound bag of sugar or the 32 pound container of laundry detergent. So, needless to say, I am very excited about getting your help, not only for the physical help, but also for the help it will be financially. God bless all of you who are so willing to help us! I love you all!

Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009

A great way to start the day! You know...a refreshing, cleansing, warm shower! Words cannot say what it does to one's physical body! However, wouldn't it be great to take a spiritual shower at the same time? Hey, how's that possible?

Well, I'm glad you asked! Each morning, you can take a physical and spiritual shower simultaneously. It sure will feel good to your spirit. Here's how you can do it:

+++Ask the Lord to wash you by the water of the Word, as you turn on the water in the shower.

+++Ask the Lord to wash you thoroughly from your iniquities and cleanse you from your sin as the soapy water cascades down your skin. Name your sins as the dirt and dead cells float down the drain!

+++Ask the Lord to cleanse you from secret faults, as He begins to reveal them to you.

+++Ask the Lord, "Let me draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having my heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water.

+++As you are drying off, ask the Lord to blot out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions and sins.

+++If you put on oil or cream, as I do, ask the Lord to anoint you for the day with His Holy Spirit.

+++When you finish, thank Him for cleansing you from all sin.

These are just a very few things you can say as you take a shower. Add your own to this list. You can spend your entire time in the shower bathing physically and spiritually. What a great way to start the day!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The girls voted yesterday on who is the most serious in the household about their walk with the Lord. Jennifer got the most votes; Mary Edith and Janie tied. We are giving them some special privileges because of this.

..........Everyone in the household has started on some kind of exercise plan. Several of us are walking every day. I am staying after group so I can walk with them. Some of us walk 2 miles; others walk 3 miles. Our main priority is to be in good spiritual shape, but we all want to be in good physical shape as well.

..........Hopefully, we will be starting on the Constant Contact next week. We are trying to get everything lined up. Missy will be taking over that, so it will relieve me of some of the things I have to do. She is really good at it.

Date: Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:32:43 -0400

Napoleon's sword! George Washington's gun! David's sling! Goliath's javelin. Saul's armor! Weapons used by famous people! It's doubtful that you own any of these, but you do have a weapon in your home that belonged to the foremost dignitary who ever walked across the face of this planet. You have, in your possession, the exact weapon used by the greatest man who has ever lived!

Friend, you have the very sword of Jesus Christ Himself! It is the same sword He used over 2,000 years ago to defeat satan. It's the same sword He will one day use again as He smites the nations and rules them with a rod of iron. It's mightier than all the weapons of all the nations since the beginning of time. It's more powerful than any gun, any cannon, any torpedo, or any bomb that man has ever made or ever will make. It is so powerful that it can even mow down the invisible army that wages war continuously against the souls of mankind!

This sword is the Word of God, according to Ephesians 6:17. And it will work for you just like it did for Jesus. This sword has never lost a battle! Never missed a target! Never gotten dull! Never diminished in power! Never gotten outdated! The only time it won't work is when it isn't used. Swords don't work on shelves!

Wow! I have in my possession the greatest weapon the earth has ever known...the very weapon used by my precious Savior! I'm going to get it out today and thrust it right ino the hearts of my enemies (the world, the flesh, and the devil). Thunk! An enemy just bit the dust!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Stefanie has gone to Texas. She left early this morning. Some of her folks live in Texas and have invited her to come out and give her testimony to their church. They paid her plane fare and will be taking care of everything else. She will be there until Sunday. She is nervous but also very excited! Please pray for her as she stands before a lot of people to tell them all that God is doing in her life!

..........Missy's court case went great yesterday. Everything worked out just like we had all prayed! We praise God for what He has done!

..........We are working on something new. We are so excited about it. It is called Constant Contact. It will enable us to reach many, many more people and keep everyone updated about things going on at the P.H. We are in the process of getting it set up. I will explain more about it later.

Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:34:36 -0400

"Have you considered My servant, Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" Job 1:8 God asked this of satan, who had come before Him to accuse the brethren. Job, of course, knew nothing of this confrontation. He did not know that he had been chosen to be the battleground between God and satan. Satan's contention was that no man loved God for His own sake..."Does Job fear God for naught?" 1:9 Satan was really saynig, "Job only loves You because You bless him? Let me curse his blessings and I will prove it to You." Satan's primary concern was to sneer against God; he was after disconcerting God, putting God in a corner, so to speak, whre God would have to take action along satan's proposed lines.

As part of the bargain satan made with God, satan implied that God must keep out of sight...and God did! He never once showed Himself to Job. The presentation of the controversy between God and satan was such that satan had everything on his side and God had nothing on His, so much so that God dare not say a word to Job till he had proved himself worthy. Job could not answer one of the charges his friends brough against him. He tore their arguments to shreds in favor of his pain, yet he clung to, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

Where do you stand in regard to suffering? The modern mind generally looks on suffering and pain as an unmitigated curse; the Bible puts something akin to purifying in connection with suffering. However, the only way traditional belief can be transformed into personal possession is by suffering. Faith untried is simply a promise and a possibility; tried faith is pure gold. Faith must be tried, otherwise it is of no worth to God. Think of the dignity it gives to a man's life to know that God has put His honor in the man's keeping. Our lives mean more than we can tell; they mean that we are fulfilling some purpose of God about which we know nothing any more than Job did.

Friend, if you are suffering today, perhaps you, too, have been chosen by God to show satan that folks do love God no matter what! (Much of this was taken from Oswald Chamber's "Conformed to His image."

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Missy is on her way to court in Douglasville today. A decision could possibly be made today about her 15 year old daughter. We have been in prayer about this situation for some time now.

..........Jennifer and Wendi have both moved out of the Potter's House. Wendi has been here longer than a year. They are both working. Wendi will be living with Jennifer, so they can be a help to each other. Please pray for them as they spread their wings. Jennifer's three girls really want her home. She got a car...so this seems to be the right timing.

Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:53:37 -0400

Adokimos! Paul feared it! He avoided it like the plague. In fact, he said, "I beat my body and make it my slave, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway (adokimos). "

Adokimos is still around today! It has now reached epidemic proportions in the Christian population in America. Most Christians have no earthly idea that they are infected with it and will probably die with it. Therefore, not realizing their condition, they do nothing about it. Instead of the words of the apostle Paul, the modern Christian's words could be, "I pamper my body and I become a slave to it. I just let it eat all it wants, sleep all it wants, watch all the TV it wants, have all the entertainment and pleasure it wants, buy what it wants, and allow it free reign. I don't want anything that costs me too much!"

This attitude is the infectious spiritual virus that invades one's spiritual life and results in adokimos. Adokimos means a castaway, one who has been disapproved, rejected, declared worthless. In other words, it is a Christian who is of no further use to God and is put on a shelf for the duration of his earthly life. He cares more about his phyical body than about his spiritual one. He focuses mostly on himself. He has a very man-centered, me-centered Christianity.

We are all subject to adokimos! However, the good news is that we can do something to prevent it. We can determine, as Paul did, to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," "not entangling ourselves in the affairs of this life." We can take control of our bodies, remembering that our bodies make great slaves but very poor masters. Let's don't be adokimos!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Lisa's sister, Sharon , got saved in church yesterday. Also, Mary 's young nephew, Cole , got saved yesterday in church.

..........Wendi got her driver's license. It is the first time in her life that she has ever had a driver's license. We are so proud of her. She paid for the license herself, as she is working.

..........Lisa really wants another job. She is working two part-time jobs right now. Lisa has really stood for the Lord. She has been faithful. She is a good, hard worker...dependable, faithful, and has a great attitude. If you know of anything, please let us know!

..........We could use a dresser or a chest of drawers for the Hannah House. We would put it in the garage for the ladies to have extra room for some of their stuff. With two ladies in a small room, they don't have much space to put clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. in.

Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:54:35 -0400

As I sat quietly in the woods one day, listening to all the sounds and looking at everything around me that God had made, I was just enjoying communion with my Heavenly Father. I closed my eyes and listened to see how many different bird sounds I could count. I heard a dog barking in the distance, an airplane overhead, a car going by. It was so peaceful and calming.

Suddenly, the wind starting picking up and it sounded almost like rain all around me. There was pine straw falling, dead leaves blowing off tress, and bark and small limbs hitting the ground. Even a fairly good sized limb fell close to me, startling me and causing me to recoil. All this "stuff" was hanging on comfortably in the trees until the wind started blowing. Then, everything that was dead and not firmly attached blew off.

The thought hit me, "That's the way it is in a Christian's life. He can go along pretty comfortably with lots of unnecessary, unimportant, humdrum, dead stuff hanging on in his life...until the wind of the Holy Spirit starts moving. Then, all the "stuff" that is not "rooted and grounded in the Word" starts falling off!

Since then, I have been praying, "Lord, let the wind of the Holy Spirit blow across my life. Don't allow me to get comfortable. Blow everything out of my life that doesn't need to be there. Shake loose all that dead, unnecessary stuff and leave my life clean and holy. I don't like deadness! Holy Spirit, come like a mighty rushing wind! I welcome You!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Gwen is still doing great! She calls the P.H. every day, because she wants to be accountable. Her husband, John, told me that she witnesses to everybody she sees. She shows the P.H. video to everyone who comes to their house. She is still on fire for God! She and John have bought a place on a beautiful lake. They have a dock, with steps going down to the water, so the girls can swim. They are calling it the Potter's House Retreat. We all cannot wait to go. They will be moving in their new home in a couple of weeks.

..........Kelley will be moving into the Hannah House today. She will be looking for a job. She already has a nice car that was her Mother's. The H.H. girls are excited to have Kelley with them.

Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:50:56 -0400

Practice! Lots of practice! That's what it takes to be good at anything...and to stay good at it! An accomplished pianist once said, "If I fail to practice for just one day, I can tell it. If I don't practice for two days, my family can tell it. And if I don't practice for three days, the world can tell it."

Practice! It's no big secret. We all recognize the fact that sports teams must practice and accomplished musicians must practice. In fact, we realize that it takes continual practice in whatever field or endeavor we choose in order to be good at it and to stay good at it! It takes practice!

However, we don't seem to "get it" in the spiritual realm. We think we can go to church one or two days a week and have a great spiritual walk! We think we can spend a few minutes here and there with the Lord Jesus Christ and accomplish great things for Him! We don't exercise our "spiritual muscles" and they atrophy, thereby causing us to get lazy and weak spiritually. We lose our fire and our zeal and don't even realize that it's because we're not "practicing."

What's the answer to this dilemma? Practice! Daily practice! Moment by moment practice! Brother Lawerence coined a phrase years ago that he became known for: "Practice the presence of Jesus." That is something, as Christians, we all need to do. That would be a good motto for us to wake up with, go through the day with, and end the day with. If we would "practice the presence of Jesus," our lives would be transformed. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew, "Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect." Practice makes perfect!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Last night, we went to Salem Baptist Church to the Boomer's Class to give our testimonies. The Boomer's Class has supported us monthly for quite a while now. We had a great time...wonderful food and a great time of fellowship. We love and appreciate these wonderful people so very much. They gave us a $500 gift card to Sam's, which we are so excited about. My husband and I go to Sam's every week to buy groceries and supplies for the girls. It takes a lot for 23 women. So, we are so grateful for this Sam's card. Thank all of you at Salem. We love you!

..........Julie went to court yesterday and got a really good outcome. Hopefully, she will be able to get her driver's license soon. Also, Missy's fines have been paid off and she will be getting her driver's license in a week or so. We will have two more drivers...which is great! Keep praying with us for another car. If you run across something, like a Honda or a Nissan, that is older but in good shape and not too expensive, please let us know.

Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:48:15 -0400

Maximize. Minimize. That's what I do on the computer all morning long. When I want to focus on something, I maximize it. It's so easy. Just one click and my choice is made! And, then, when I finish, I can click on print, save, or delete. Just one click. So simple! Click...maximize. Click...minimize. Click...save. Click...delete!

Boy, wouldn't it be great if we could do that in real life? Bad thought...click...delete! Great thought...click...save! Awesome idea...click...print! Worship...click...maximize! Well, we don't have a click button in life, but we have something better: God's Word that tells us what we can do! We absolutely can take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can focus on Him. We can learn to discipline our minds. We have the power of choice. We can choose where our minds will dwell. God has given me a spiritual "click" button and I can turn on or off, maximize or minimize, save or delete at my discretion.

Well, today, I am going to treat my brain like a computer. All day long, I am going to think, "Click...maximize Christ." When other thoughts come that interfere, I am going to think, "Click...minimize." When bad thoughts come, I am going to think, "Click...delete." Boy, I am ready to get started. So, here goes! Click...send!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Last night, Diana Cowan came over. She has started back coming once a month and we are so excited. Diana has been coming to the P.H. for about 5 years now. She is actually the first one to start coming and bringing groups out. She even brought Casting Crowns and Altaration to the P.H. Also, two of our board members came, Henrietta and Joyce. We are always grateful to see them. We thank God for all these people who love us and support us and encourage us and pray for us. We love them very much!

.........Today, Missy and I are going to Eagle's Landing to talk to the lady there who does all their newsletters. A while back, I found out about a program, called Constant Contact, on which you can do e-mail newsletters...thousands of them. This is the program that Eagle's Landing uses for all their e-mails. I am at the point in our ministry now where I am going to have to make a change. The ink on the newsletters is so unbelievably expensive! And we have so many people who want to be added. Just this month alone, I already have 26 new people to add. So, I am going to talk to Carla today. I will let you know about the future of our newsletters.

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:53:39 -0400

There is no greater need in the church today than for the fire of God to fall. We need the supernatural power of God. We need services that are more than just nice meetings with nice music and nice preaching. We need results that cannot be explaied in terms of human effort. We need that which man cannot program, manipulate, plan or make happen. We need something more than the ordinary operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people. We need the extraordinary outpouring of His Spirit. We need the fire of God!

When the fire falls, we see God for who He really is. Both the Old and New Testaments reveal God to be a God of fire. In this centruy, we have come to teach and worship two Gods...the God of the Old Testament who is holy and just and judges sin and the God of the New Testament who is loving, merciful, and gracious. But the God of the O.T. is the same as the God of the N. T., only there is a Lamb beside the throne in the N.T.

God is still a God of fire. Fire has two sides. We heat with it, cook with it, and use it for many wonderful purposes. But, fire also has another side. it will kill and devastate if it is not obeyed and respected. It is not to be played around with or taken lightly. God isn't either! And we'd better not be playing a game, taking Him lightly, and not obeying and respecting Him. He's still a holy God and He still hates and judges sin!

We need revival in America! Our country is in a mess! Let's pray for the fire to fall and burn up all our dross! Let's get back to the holiness of our Almighty, all powerful, Creator.....God!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We had a good meeting in Camilla yesterday. Our main purpose was to acquaint some of the people with the Potter's House and let them know about our ministry. We hope to open a home down there, so we want the community to know about us before we ever come.

..........God is really moving in the hearts of our ladies. You wouldn't believe some of the things that are going on. We are all really praying for America and for a revival in our land.

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:49:28 -0400

UNBELIEVABLE!

YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS!

Want to hear something unbelievable? Ok. Here it is. Yesterday, Mary Edith was down in the library, in which we have many books. She came across one of the several Bibles we have in the library and decided to pick it up. For some reason, she looked at the first page inside and saw the page I have attached.

She immediately ran upstairs with the Bible to show it to Janie. Janie, who has been at the P.H. a short time, was raised in and out of DFACS from the age of 5 to the age of 17. During this time, as a teenager, she was baptized at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church...in 1991. Because of her volatile situation through those years, she was unable to keep many things that were important to her. One of those things was the Bible that was given to her by this church upon her baptism.

This Bible somehow made its way over a period of 18 years, from 1991 to the present, and ended up at the P.H. in our library. We have no idea how we got it. We have people to donate books from time to time, so we know someone donated this Bible at some point. The Lord watched over this Bible for 18 years and made sure that Janie got it back. How awesome is that!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

.......... I will be going to Camilla this morning to speak to the Rotary Club. Please pray for us as we go.

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:50:07 -0400

10 little Christians; All feeling fine; One got a stomach ache; And then there were 9.

9 little Christians; None filled with hate. But, one got mad. And then there were 8.

8 little Christians; Talking about heaven; One loved the world; And then there was 7.

7 little Christians; All trimming their wicks; One got low on oil. And then there were 6.

6 little Christians; None liked to strive; But, one began complaining; And then there were 5.

5 little Chrstians; Helping others through the Door; But, one got tired; And then there were 4.

4 little Christians; All on bended knee; One went to sleep; And then there were 3.

3 little Christians; None feeling blue; But, one got depressed; And then there were 2.

2 little Christians; Standing by the gun; One got afraid; And then there was 1.

1 little Christian; Standing all alone; Standing firm for Jesus; Till God called him home!

(A poem the Lord gave me many years ago.)

Dear one, have you somehow fallen by the wayside? Have you gotten weary, tired, depressed, afraid, angry, or any ot the other emotions that keep us from faithfully loving and serving Him? Are you serving Him today because of what He does for you, for how He makes you feel......or are you serving Him simply because you love Him and you have determined in your heart to serve Him faithfully no matter what?

Let's all decide that we are going to be that one little Christian that remains faithful to Him. He deserves our very best, our all, given in complete consecration and dedication to Him forever!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Sunday morning, we went to Eagle's Landing Legacy Group luncheon. We enjoyed a great meal and great fellowship with our sisters and brothers in Christ. We showed our video and gave our testimonies. Going to Eagle's Landing is like our second home. We know so many of the people and have gotten so close to them. The girls all got to meet Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Barry Smith of Altaration. We had an awesome time!

..........Last night, our friends from Eagle's Landing came...they have been coming once a month now for over 4 years. They are our family. We love them and so appreciate all the love and support and encouragement they have been to us through these years. Without them, the P.H. would definitely not be what it is today! We love you all and thank God for you!

Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:23:01 -0400

YOU ARE GOD'S LITTLE MAILBOX

A mailbox, no matter if it's rickety and in need of repair, or if it's huge and majestic...it has only one purpose. That purpose is to hold and convey messages to people all over the world. The mailbox is part of a much greater system, but it is a vital part of that system! To be effective, however, the mailbox cannot be set up just anywhere. It couldn't be out in a field somewhere, disconnected from its system. If it were, it would be utterly useless. It could neither receive nor transmit the stream of human communication for which it is made.

Likewise, we Christians are God's little mailboxes. Regardless of how tall or short, fat or skinny, educated or uneducated we are, we still have one purpose....to receive and transmit the stream of Divine communication between heaven and earth. We are part of a much greater system and, like a regular mailbox, we cannot be disconnected from our Source, Almighty God, or we could no longer receive or transmit.

Friend, if you are saved, you are God's little mailbox. You might be a little ole' rusty, small mailbox, but you can still carry heavenly mail. So, get your eyes off the other mailboxes and just do your job! The Master Postman has some heavenly mail He wants to deliver to earth...and He wants to deliver it through you!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We have another new girl, Sherry. She came about 5:00 P.M. and went to church with us. She got saved in Lisa's office after church. Lisa could tell Sherry was in a battle, so she talked to her about her soul and Sherry gave her heart and life to Christ.

..........We had an awesome time in Destin. There is absolutely no way to describe it. We went expecting God to move and He did. He moved in every life...and He moved every day. The girls got up excited, went through the day excited, and went to bed excited. All day long, they searched the Scriptures and God spoke mightily. The Lord moved on all of us to be witnesses...and they went up and down the beach witnessing to folks. Even the quiet ones were talking to people. One lady came to our group time one night.

..........The girls came back, saying that we are going to get up every day expecting God to show up. We want to carry on what we received in Destin.

Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:20:11 -0400

We are getting ready to leave for Destin, but I wanted to mention a couple of things. One, I want to thank McDonough Christian Church for the landscaping for the Hannah House last Saturday. It is unbelievable what they did. They have put plants around the entire house. It is beautiful. They will finish up this coming Saturday, so I will send pictures of the yard later. Thank you, thank you, thank you! These folks have been precious friends to us at the P.H.for several years now. We would not be near where we are without them! We love you, McD C.

Also, I want to thank Danny Keith, Missy's uncle, who has faithfully supported us ever since Missy came to the P.H. He had a fish fry for us because he wanted to do something for us. He raised $1090! We were all blown away! What Danny didn't know and what Jan Kelley, who had a yard sale for us, didn't know was that our donations were down and that we had all been really praying for funds. It is amazing to see how God provides when you don't tell anyone of your need, you pray, and you see God answer in ways you never thought of! Thank you, thank you, thank you Danny, Jan, and all the others who helped!

I love you all and thank God for all of you who are helping make an eternal difference in the lives of so, so many! God bless you all abundantly!

Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:52:23 -0400

"Lord, you certainly do have a sense of humor," I thought, as I removed myself from the hole in the bottom of the chair. I had been teaching on faith. One of the verses I had stressed repeatedly was Mark 11:22, "Have faith in God." I had told the ladies that our faith is to be in God...period....not in what God is going to do; not in how my situation is going to turn out; not in whether my prayers are answered or not...but faith in God period!

I stated to the ladies that the most important thing about faith is not how much we have, but what our faith is in. In other words, the object of our faith is critical. For three weeks in a row, I had put two chairs in the middle of the floor. I pointed to the two, telling them that, if one of the chairs were defective underneath, then it wouldn't matter how much faith I had in the chair. The ability of the chair to hold me up would be defective...and the rest would be history.

Little did I know that I was going to live out my lesson shortly, as I sat down in a chair on my deck...a chair that I had trusted for 4 or 5 years...a chair that had always held me up. I plopped down in my chair and received the shock of my life, as the vinyl straps snapped and I fell through the bottom of it with a jolt! It didn't matter how much faith I had in that chair, because the object of my faith was defective!

Picking myself up, I realized a valuable lesson. Everything on this earth that we are trusting in will one day fail. It may work for years and years, but eventually it is bound for failure, because everything on earth weakens, decays, and breaks. Therefore, I had better be trusting in God alone! He should be the object of my faith! He is the only One and the only thing that will never fail! "Have faith in God!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........My husband and I are leaving for Destin in the morning and He will be there until Oct 4th. The P.H. girls will all be coming down on the 4th and we will stay until the 9th. We are really looking forward to a powerful move of God. We begin each day with the girls going to the beach and spending a couple of hours alone with the Lord. We all meet back in the condo at 9 and share what God has spoken to us or dealt with us about. Usually, that lasts about 2 or 3 hours. Then, we eat lunch and the girls have free time until 5. We eat and then have the rest of the night for whatever the Lord wants to do. It is always powerful! God always shows up and shows out There is hardly anybody at the beach right now, so we pretty much have the beach and the pool to ourselves. We have an awesome, spiritual time that the girls never forget! Most of them spend all day in the Word, listening to CD sermons and music, etc.

Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009

YOU'RE BEING STALKED BY THE FWD TEAM!

You're being stalked! Day and night! 365 days a year! You're being stalked! The FWD team is after you! Fear, worry and doubt are hot on your trail to harass you, handcuff you, and lead you around like a whipped puppy dog! Are you just going to cower down and hold out your hands for the cuffs to be put on?

Absolutely not! You're going to do just what you would do if you were being stalked physically! Go to the authorities and put out a restraining order! Get up out of your mulligrubs, go to the Lord Jesus Christ, get in His holy Word, and read what He says about your stalkers. Then, go to them....fear, worry, doubt....and read the restraining order. Tell them, "Jesus is my Jehovah Jireh. Jesus is my Jehovah Rapha. Jesus is my Jehovah Nissi. Jesus is my El Shaddai. Jesus is my El Elyon. Jesus is my Adonai. Jesus is my Jehoveh Roi. Jesus is my Jehovah Tsidkenu. Jesus is my Jehovah Shammah. I have no reason to fear, to worry, or to doubt. Get lost!"

Today, friend, take those handcuffs off! The FWD team has already been defeatd! You have all of heaven backing you up! Press the FWD button and go forward, leaving all fear, worry, and doubt behind!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Stacie is still down in Pelham. She is looking for a job until we can get a Potter's House started down there. Right now, we are at a standstill, but hopefully things will start moving soon. It is completely up to the Lord. If He wants a P.H. in Pelham, then we will have one. And, if He doesn't, we won't. We will make the necessary steps as He directs, not as we want.

..........It seems that the Lord is refining and defining our ministry more clearly each day! My burden is for the Lord to use the P.H. to make a difference in multitudes of lives, not just those that are part of the P.H., but in the lives of all those sitting in churches who need stirring and refiring! We are asking God to make us a breath of fresh air everywhere we go, to help stale Christians get back on track again, to stir people's hearts for a closer walk with Him. Our ministry is not just to help those who come to us, but to be a blessing to all those who hear our testimonies and see firsthand the power of God to change lives radically today!

Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009

Stir up a glass of clear water that has mud in the bottom of the glass. Guess what you'll get? Muddy water! Stir up a glass of clear, pure water with nothing else in it and there will be no change whatsoever. That's because you cannot stir up what is not already there!

Remember this the next time you get angry or upset and want to blame someone else. You cannot stir up something unless it was there in the first place. The guy who pulled out in front of you in his car wasn't to blame for your anger. He simply stirred up what was already lying dormant in you!

Friend, is there mud in the bottom of your glass? Have your waters been muddied lately? If so, perhaps it's a good time for some dirt removal! Get out your dirt detector, the Word of God, and allow it to clean you up!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Our Stefani is pregnant! She and Josh have been trying for a few years to get pregnant. They went through the tests, the ovulation timing, etc. They have even helped start a class at church, called Plus One, for those who have fertility issues. She turned everything over to God a while back and told Him she was happy with whatever He decided for her and Josh. She quit trying and started trusting God for His will in her life, even if that meant never having a baby. And look what happened! Isn't that the way God always works?

..........Genora's surgery went well. She has gone home to her Mom for a couple of days, because she isn't supposed to be doing anything but lying around. Genora isn't one to lie around either.

Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:53:14 -0400

WON'T SOMEBODY GO AFTER THE LORD?

At death's door! That's where her daughter was! Can't you just see her...holding her precious daughter in her arms...waiting anxiously...looking out the window, hoping any time to see Jairus coming back with Jesus? The only thing on Mrs. Jairus' mind that day was getting her dying daughter to the only hope in the world, the Lord Jesus Christ!

And can you just imagine some long-tongued busy-body coming over that day and saying, "Mrs. Jairus, have you heard what's going on down at the house of God? Do you know what that preacher had the audacity to do?" Mrs. Jairus would have responded quickly, "Look. My daughter is dying. I'm not interested in discussing the problems going on down at the house of God. The problem is at MY house! MY house is the one in need of Jesus!"

Well, dear one, today we have a lot of sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles lying at the point of death...spiritual death! Once again we need somebody to go after the Lord and bring Him to OUR house! Sure, there may be lots of things going on down at the house of God. But, if we get our minds off the gossip and onto our lost loved ones, we won't have the time or the interest to be listening to the Ms. Long-Tongues that are always busy hunting a listening ear. We'll have our minds on one thing and one thing only....getting the dying ones to Christ before it's too late.

Won't somebody go after the Lord today, cause we're in a mess in our homes and Jesus Christ is the ONLY ANSWER! And, won't somebody go after the Lord for our country? We're lying at the point of death...and our ONLY hope is the Lord Jesus Christ!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........The yard sale went well, even though it rained. Thank you, Jan Kelley and all the others, for loving us and wanting to do something to help us. We appreciate all the hard work and the hours you put into this! And we will certainly use the $740 to make an eternal difference in many lives! God bless you all....our precious sisters in Christ! We love you!

..........Lisa had an awesome time at the NQC. She is so excited about all the new friends she met. We are so glad she got to go, even though we missed her terribly. Things aren't the same around the P.H. without our precious Lisa!

..........Have a wonderful week, all of you! Let's get our minds on eternal things, not on things on the earth. Let's wake up and call America back to her knees before our God! Remember: if we, God's people, will humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways......He has promised that He WILL heal our land!

Date: Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:03:54 -0400

It wasn't in the sunlight that the Apostle John received the visions of his Redeemer and wrote the book of the Revelation. Rather, it was on the Isle of Patmos....exiled because of his faith, alone, old, forgotten. What appeared to be a deep, dark night of the soul was actually a rich blessing!

It wasn't in the sunlight that Joseph became second in command over all of Egypt and was able to save his entire family from starvation. Rather, it was in the deep, dark night of his soul....sold into slavery by his own brothers, taken to a foreign country, falsely accused and imprisoned. What appeared to be a deep, dark night of the soul was actually a rich blessing to many.

It wasn't in the sunlight that Jacob's name was changed to Israel. Rather, it was during a dark period in his life, when he was preparing to face his brother, Esau, who at one time had wanted to kill him. During this night in his life, Jacob wrestled with an angel and prevailed and his name was changed from Jacob, which means supplanter or deceiver, to "Israel," which means prince. His deep, dark night of his soul was actually a blessing.

Today, dear one, perhaps you are in a deep, dark night of your soul. There seems to be no way out...no light at the end of the tunnel...no hope. This "Isle of Patmos" in your life could be one of the greatest blessings you have ever received! Just look up. You may see many stars of promise that were never visible in the brightness of the good times in your life!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Lisa is already packed and ready to come home, even though they are not coming until tomorrow. She has had a great time, but she is ready to get back to her girls. She has given out several of our DVD's and has showed our before and after back to a lot of people.

..........Our yard sale is today! Jan Kelley is having the yard sale for us at the Potter's House. She did it last year and is doing it again this year. Even though it is cloudy, we are going ahead with it. Jan is at the house if any of you would like to come and check out what we have. We have received so much stuff to sell.

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:36:32 -0400

Peter stepped out of the boat with confidence. Jesus had said to him, "Come," and that was all Peter needed...just one word from his Lord. He wasn't really stepping out on the water. He was stepping out on the Word. He wasn't thinking about the circumstances...the high winds and huge waves. He wasn't thinking about the impossibility. All he was thinking about was that his Master said, "Come" and that's exactly what he did!

However, once he stepped out of his comfort zone, out of the security of the vessel, he began to look at the circumstances and they looked ferocious. Recognizing the utter impossibility of his situation, he was suddenly overcome with fear and doubt. And he started to sink! He now found himself being overcome by the very things he was walking on top of just a few minutes before.

And you know, it wasn't the wind and the waves that sank him. It was the fact that he no longer believed the Word of the Lord, "Come." He put the finite impossibility of his circumstances over the infinite possibilities of the Word of God.

Perhaps today, dear one, fierce winds of adversity are blowing in your life. You want Jesus to calm the winds and still the waves, so you can stay in your comfortable little boat of life. However, He is not speaking to the storm. He is speaking to you! He wants to see how much you really believe Him. He wants you to, "Come." So, are you going to sit in fear and doubt....or are you going to step out into your storm on the Word of the Lord and believe Him no matter what?

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........WOW! Lisa is headed for Louisville, Ky. for the National Quartet Convention. She was invited by one of our P.H. graduates, Tonya Thompson, whose husband, Daniel, sings in the group, "Higher Hope." And she was also invited by one of our dear P.H. friends, Susan Handley, who has just recently released her album. Tonya and Susan said that they got to eat and go bowling with some of the people last year. They get to interact with many of the singers, like Jason Crabb and Guy Penrod, for example.

..........Lisa is taking several DVD's of our ministry; newsletters, the Before and After Book; a couple of my books, "Even Weeds Have Flower"; and several business cards. She really hopes to talk to Gloria Gaither and tell her all about the P.H. She has a portable DVD player and plans on showing the DVD to as many as she can and telling them about our ministry.

...........Margo and Kelley will be in charge while Lisa is gone.

Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:49:58 -0400

Ordinary. That's what most days are. They're just ordinary. We get up as usual and go through the same routine, doing the same things in the same way as we have been doing them for years. Most days, we are not even expecting anything any different. We kind of settle into a twilight sleep and just go through the motions mechanically.

Well, today let's break out of the ordinary! Let's expect the extraordinary! Let's look for God to show up on the scene today and show Himself strong in our behalf, as we give our hearts fully to Him! Let's look for opportunities to speak in His behalf! Let's watch for ways we can be a blessing and a help to others! Let's be aware of the people and situations around us that we need to bring before God's throne.

In other words, let's get fully awake today, shake off the lethargy, and forge ahead with great expectations. We have a great God and the world around us needs to see how awesome and wonderful and powerful He is! And they're only gonna see Him through us!

Are you with me today? Let's just see what God will do if we go into this day, believing Him and expecting Him to show up and show out!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Tomorrow, we will be going to Ingleside Baptist Church in Macon. Dara is the first speaker for a women's conference that will last from 9:30 until 4:00. She will also be doing her interpretive dance. She has asked us to come and give a presentation about the P.H. We will be showing our video and providing information to the leaders of the women's ministry there. We are praying that this will be another open door for us.

..........Julie is back from her parent's home and has moved into the Hannah House. She will be looking for a job. She has her dental hygiene license and has been practicing for years. If you know of any dentists around the area who need a hygienist, please let us know.

..........We are already praying for another house. We are full in both houses. There is a house that is only 1/3 of a mile from the P.H., on the same street, that is for sale by owner. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and almost 10 acres. It would be a great location and size for us...but we don't know what God's will is in this matter yet. We are just asking you to pray with us about what the Lord wants us to do at this point. He is the Door Opener and the Door Closer. Whatever He wants to do is fine with us!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009 8:35 AM

He was caught! Frantically, he tried over and over to escape, only to no avail. Stef was outside taking pictures of Mary Edith yesterday when they heard him. He was just a little hummingbird, hopelessly caught in a huge spider web that was in the palm tree. And the big spider was actually headed toward his captive when the girls spotted the bird and rescued him. The web had him all entangled so that he could not fly. However, as you can guess, they freed him and he flew off.

Isn't that so like us? We often get entangled in the devil's web and can't seem to escape. The more we flail and beat, the more entangled we become. It's only as we get so tired that we quit fighting that our Father steps in and rescues us. He plucks us out of the net just in time and gently removes all the entangling "stuff" and frees us. And, like the bird, we often fly off without so much as a "Thank You."

Have you been entangled in the devil's web lately? If so, the Father wants to set you free. Why don't you run into His arms, get in His Word, spend time in prayer, and quit fighting and struggling. Just give up...not to despair, but to Jesus...and let Him set you free. And don't forget to thank Him with all your heart when He does!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Julie has been at her parent's home since her graduation. She will be flying back in this morning and starting into second phase. We have 4 ladies at the P.H. and 4 ladies at the H.H. All our beds are taken right now, so we will soon be needing another second phase home.

..........For all of you who get the newsletter, my printer is not working, so I cannot print the newsletters yet. Dick Elzie is coming over today to see if he can figure out the problem. The problem is not with the printer...it is with the connection. It won't connect with the computer. I love this modern technology, but I know nothing about how to operate it.

..........I love you all and thank God for you. The Lord continues to provide every need we have, thanks to all of you precious folks. He sends in all we need to pay our bills and to even get many of the things that we don't necessarily have to have, but that we want. Since day 1 of the P.H., we have never been late on one single bill. Our Father continues to amply provide for us through all of you and for this, we will be eternally grateful to all of you. We love all of you!

Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 08:41:46 -0400

He was not a slacker! In fact, he was a real soldier. But, even good soldiers get weary! David had grown faint and fatigued in the battle against the Philistines. As you might expect, that's exactly when Ishbibenob, one of the sons of the giant, attacked. He came on strong when David was weak. Without help, David would more than likely suffer a great defeat! And that's when Abishai, whose name means "source of wealth" came to David's aid. He succored King David and smote te Philistine giant!

Christian soldier, perhaps you're tired in the battle! And Ishbibenob has come on strong, even threatening to slay your spiritual life! You are in no shape to take Ishbibenob on. You're teetering on the brink of a great defeat! You need succor, protection, strength, courage, and a fresh hope!

Well, I've got good news! Your "Abishai," your "source of wealth" is here, ready to smite the giant that is threatening you. Just cry out to Him with all your heart. Run to Him for strength, for protection, for courage, for hope! Quit looking at Ishbibenob and start looking at your Abishai! Trust Him! Do not fear; Abishai is near!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........God is really moving at the P.H. Stefani has been invited to speak in a church in Texas. They are paying her travel expenses. She will be giving her testimony. They have expressed an interest in a Potter's House in their town. I will give more details later.

..........Lisa Hensley has been invited to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky on Sept. 15-18. She will be going with Daniel and Tonya Thompson, as he sings with New Hope, and with Susan Handley, who sings on her own. Lisa will get a chance to sit down with the Gaithers and all of the others who are there. She is going to carry lots of info on the P.H. and will be talking to all of them about our ministry. We don't know if anything will come of this, but we will certainly be praying that God will set in motion anything that He desires for us. She is so excited that she will get a chance to share with these folks all that God has done in her life!

..........Two other people have called that are interested in starting other Potter's Houses in other places. I don't know what God is doing, but I am overwhelmed right now.

Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 08:40:16 -0400

"Consider the lilies..." An antidote to worry and fear! Haven't we Americans forgotten to "consider the lilies?" We traffic so much in a concrete jungle that most of our considering is on things made by man. Well, we need to put everything aside, get out in the open air where we can see what God made, and consider His awesomeness!

Why not go out tonight and just gaze into space...at the stars? That'll do something to you...especially when you consider how far away those stars are! Say, for instance, that a particular star you are looking at is 5,000 light years away. That means that the light that left that star, travelling at the speed of 186,000 miles per second, took 5,000 years to reach earth. So, the star you are seeing is actually the light that left 5,000 years ago and has just now arrived. Then, you are actually looking at eternity past! You are seeing 5,000 years ago! Wow!

When we take in the vastness of the universe, we begin to realize how very tiny we are and how small our little bitty problems are to such a great God! If we can trust Him to keep a universe in good working order, and we "consider the lilies," then what do we have to worry about?

Let's lay our problems at His feet today and trust Him with all our hearts! Let's consider how our God takes care of this huge universe and how He takes care of something like lilies with such tender care and precision. And we can know He will take care of us! Consider Him!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........We are back from Pelham, from meeting with Pastor Doug. We are ready to take the next step, which will be zoning. We are all so excited about a Potter's House in Pelham. Pastor Doug said that we lit a fire down there when we gave our testimonies. Everybody in the whole town is talking about it. The Lion's Club and the Rotary Club are wanting us to speak to them. Also, some of the churches have already expressed the desire for us to come and give our testimonies to them. It's more than my mind can comprehend that there could be a P.H. in my home town. I have no words to express how I feel. We need lots of prayer about this. There will be many details to work out! I will keep you informed!

..........Betty has moved in with Lisa. Betty will remain as our food co-ordinator and our birthday and graduation co-ordinator. She will also help with transportation and other things as we need her. She is such a blessing to us at the P.H. We love Betty and thank God for her sweet, helpful, precious attitude!

Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:36:41 -0400

Worrying? Doubting? Fearing? Looking for an answer to a problem in your life? Looking for a way to take care of the circumstances you are facing? Well, friend, look no further! Quit looking for an answer! Quit looking for a way to handle it. You don't need an answer. You need Him! He IS the answer to every problem! It's not an answer you need.....it's THE answer...and that answer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just get in His presence and spend time alone with Him. Quit focusing on your problem and instead focus on Him alone. And, you will be pleasantly surprised. Whatever problem you had will melt in His presence. He will take care of everything in His time, in His way, in His power. And He will handle it without your fretting and worrying and fixing. In fact, He will often do it without your even being aware of what He is doing.

Look around and be distressed!

Look within and be depressed!

Look above and be at rest!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Jennifer and Missy both have had interviews at Taco Bell, where Wendi works. The manager told Wendi he would probably hire anyone she recommended, because she is such a good worker. Once they both start work, we will move toward getting them a place together so they can get their daughters back.

..........Julie is with her parents until June 9. She is helping get things arranged for her dad, who is in his 90's. They have placed him in an assisted living home. Julie will be coming back to the Hannah House for second phase. Julie is a dental hygienist...and has started volunteering every Friday with Dr. Durham, the dentist who does a lot of dental work on our girls. Every Friday, he takes our girls that need to go...Julie cleans their teeth...and Dr. Durham decides what needs to be done to fix their mouths. It is so awesome! Julie wants to continue doing this.

..........Yea! Doreen Elliott, from Bethel United Methodist Church, has been working on some things to help us. On September 12, we have some men from their church coming out to fix our deck and to fix closets downstairs in the laundry room. We are so, so, so excited. Our deck has not been safe ever since we moved in...and we haven't been able to use it like we would like. And, we have needed closets ever since we moved in. We thank God for Doreen and for the Lord placing it on her heart to help us.

Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:24:16 -0400

This is interesting...from Watchman Nee. "Each time a trial of faith comes our way, we should understand that it is not we who are being proven, but the Lord. When our faith is being proven, it is actually the Son of God who is being proven; it is God's faithfulness and not you that is being tested. Whatever trial descends on you, it is to test what Christ can do for you---if you let Him.

It is only after your faith has been tested and proven that you will be able to help and benefit other people. And, in the process, God's heart will be satisfied, and His name will be glorified. This is the faith that is "more precious than gold."

When I first read this, I didn't get it. It just didn't sound right. But, then I have reread this and it makes so much sense. The way God shows the world who He is happens through our trials. It is God's chance to prove to the world His reality, His ability, His power, His faithfulness...in other words, who He is...if we will yield to Him, rejoice in the trial and in what God wants to do through it, and allow Him to accomplish His will through us.

Wow! This puts a whole different perspective on trials. It's about God...not about me! It's about His will being done...not mine! It's about a chance to show who God really is...not about me being in the midst of something I am having to endure. So, let's eagerly await our trials and rejoice in the midst of them, knowing that God is using me to show forth His glory!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........Wednesday morning, I had the privilege of speaking to the Legacy Group luncheon at Eagle's Landing. I was so excited to hear that Sandy Elzie has received a copy of the book she has written. It will be in Barnes and Noble in October. It is called "Diplomatic Tutor." It is the first in a series of 4 Christian romance novels. Amazon books has published the first one and will be publishing the others also. She told the Lord that she will always give a portion of what she makes to the P.H. Pray that the books will sell off the shelves!

..........Lisa is having an awesome time in the mountains.

Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:02:29 -0400

AMFB. That's what I need to be. AMFB. That's what Jesus told His parents when they had returned to get Him after discovering that He had been missing about a day's journey. He told them that He was AMFB: "about My Father's Business."

You know, it's not about us, not about our plans, not about our programs, not about our own goals. It's all about the Lord; about His plans, His desires, and His will. He is looking for someone who can say, "Not my will but Thine be done." He is looking for some AMFB's.

What are you today? Are you about your Father's business? Or you about your own business? Years ago, the Lord laid on my heart that if I would tend to His heavenly business, He would take care of my earthly business. And wow, can He ever take care of my earthly business! Why would I ever want to tend to my own stuff when God, the Creator of the universe, wants to take care of it for me?

So, today, let's be AMFB. It's the greatest way in the world to live!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........I am on Facebook now, after several people have stayed on me about it. If you are not on my Facebook, please send a friend request.

..........Lisa has gone to the mountains until Sunday for a mini-retreat. She wants to spend some time alone with the Lord. She certainly deserves it, as she is with all the girls 24/7. We are praying for a spiritual renewal in her heart..and that she will come back on fire for God and spill it out on us!

..........Stacie will be taking over at the P.H. while Lisa is gone. This is part of her training to be a housemother in Pelham, when we get the P.H. down there. Please continue to pray about this, for there are many needs that we are facing and we are praying and believing God to meet all these needs in whatever way He sees fit.

Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:10:52 -0400

Three different men had a desire to follow the Lord, but they all had second thoughts when they heard His uncompromising words. They all said they wanted to follow, but two of them added the words, 'but first." In other words, they had something else to tend to before they would be able to follow Jesus.

Jesus answered them by saying, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 He let them know that following Him involves a cost and a "but first" attitude is completely unacceptable. In order to follow Christ, one must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow...just now!

Today, dear one, perhaps you are like one of the three fellows. You really do want to follow the Lord just now; however, there is a "but first" in your life. There is something you are not willing to let go of yet, something holding you back from fully surrendering to Him. You intend to surrender totally....."but first."

That's really dangerous, you know, because one day your "but first" will be your last. Do you want to be fit for the kingdom of God? Well, surrender everything to Him today, put your hand to the plough...and don't look back. Give up your "but first" for a "just now!"

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........What a surprise I had Saturday. Lisa had planned a surprise birthday party for me at the P.H. The girls went all out. We had tons of food, gospel music, interpretive dance, lots of laughter and fellowship. I have never gotten that many presents in all my life. There were over a hundred people present. I was completely shocked...in fact, I think I was in a daze for a little while. I just never in a million years expected anything like that. It was the first surprise birthday party I have ever had, where lots of people were invited. Also, Josh and Stef made a video for me, starting when I was a baby. I will cherish this video forever! Thank all of you for one of the most wonderful days I have ever had in my life!

..........We had 7 girls from the P.H. to get baptized last night. Yesterday, August 16, was my actual birthday and they wanted to get baptized on my birthday. That will always be a special day to me, too...in my memory forever and ever! I am so proud of all these ladies. We've got a lot of new ladies...and they are awesome!

Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:13:31 -0400

Problems all around you! Dark clouds filling your horizon! Depression rising up within you! Discouragement stalking you! Your world seems to be crumbling all around you. You don't know what to do. You're afraid. Where can you turn?

Well, friend, there is a Hand stretched out to you; a Hand, with a wound in the palm of it. That precious Hand was pierced for you. That precious Hand willingly stretched itself out on an old rugged cross in order to save you. That Hand today is reaching out to you.

Why don't you put your hand in His Hand, just as a small child would put its little hand in the hand of its Father when getting ready to cross a busy street. That little child doesn't worry about oncoming traffic. That little child isn't thinking about any danger. That little child isn't rehearsing all the "what ifs" of crossing the street. He just simply puts his hand into his Father's hand and trusts him to get him safely across.

Today, you are getting ready to cross the busy street of life. You will meet lots of heavy, oncoming traffic. You'll face many dangers. You could get run over. You could get hurt. It looks pretty near impossible to cross the street alone!

Why don't you reach out the hand of your faith as a litle child and put it in His Hand? Just trust Him! His nail pierced Hand will guide you safely across the busy street of life!

UPDATES ON THE POTTER'S HOUSE

..........I received an e-mail from Janessa, who was at the P.H. over a year ago. She said she is doing excellent. She continues to read her Bible every morning. She is in her second year of nursing school and is leading the worship at her church. She hopes to come visit, as she says she gets kind of home sick when she looks at the pictures of us! We are very proud of you, Janessa.

..........Last night, our friends from the Legacy Group came. As always, we had an awesome time. We love all of you so much and thank God for you. You are part of our hearts and will be part of our lives forever! You are helping make an eternal difference in so, so many lives!

Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 08:40:06 -0400

Breathing. It's vital to our physical lives! We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. And we do this all day long without even giving it any thought. It's just natural. The head is corresponding all the time with the lungs and with everything that participates in our breathing process, telling it all what to do.

Likewise, we need to practice spiritual breathing. We should breathe in a promise and breathe out a prayer. The Bible says to "pray without ceasing." We should be so aware of God's presence and so controlled by the "Head" that breathing in and out spiritually should occur without our even thinking about it. It should become natural!

It's kind of like this. A very young child is "Mother" conscious. Without thinking about it, he is always aware of his Mother. He can play contentedly and be amused in his little play world; yet, when his mother wal