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I feel as if I haven’t sat down to write in sometime. The past three week have been a blur. I have been busy traveling, attending conferences, and entertaining family guests and now I am on the road again. On the road again, I just can’t wait to get on the road again … oh wait – I am not supposed to be singing, but writing … oops 🙂
It’s all good – I have a vacation planned starting at the end of next week with my husband to celebrate 27 years of marriage on August 19th! Wow, it just seems like yesterday… and just look at this picture – we were so young.
However, all my previously scheduled posts and vlogs have been used and I have no more in the bank…. Sigh – time to get busy writing and creating again.
Three weeks ago today I was in North Carolina attending the She Speaks Conference with my friend Patti Krank. This was my first time to ever attend and I was super excited about what God had in store for me while there. You see, I was finally stepping out past fear and rejection and decided to try again to meet with some publishers/editors. It’s been over 5 years since I have done that. The last time I did, well, let’s just say it left a very bad taste in my mouth. I felt rejected, dejected, and misunderstood. It was horrible.
I was blessed with the opportunity to have some planned God ordered meetings (the publishers) and then some unplanned by me, but God ordained none-the-less.
I am uncertain as to what either publisher/editor will decide in regards to the material I pitched, however, they were very interested and even took my books. I even pitched different ideas at the appointments.
I left both of those appointments feeling, encouraged, excited, accepted, and validated. Such a contrast to the appointments 5 plus years ago. At this point, I have done what I can do, the rest is in God’s hands. He originally opened the door for me to meet with two very prestigious publishing houses and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with each one. Now, it is in their hands and Gods as to what comes next. Please join me in praying for the “what’s next.”
There were several take-a-ways for me from she speaks, but the one that hit home the most, was KNOW the season you are in.
Whitney Capps said,
“You cannot miss your season of ministry … Your Yes today unleashes God’s Yes for tomorrow.”
Whitney went on to share, don’t worry what others are doing right now, and focus on what God has for you right NOW.” She was talking about her season of life. People are always asking her, ‘when will you publish a book, when will you do this or that?’ All things she longs and has a desire to do, however, God showed her that her assignment right now was Him and her family first.
Oh and then there was this line from Suzi Eller,
“Is my need to be known, greater than the need before me?”
Courtney DeFeo said,
“Enjoy and be a good steward of what you’ve been given.”
Lysa TerKeurst shared a powerful message on rejection from her newly released book Uninvited. If you havne’t ordered yours yet, purchase it today! It is amazing. It was evident throughout She Speaks that Lysa’s heart is for women to be together – united. Many of the messages and topics shared at She Speaks confirmed my own thoughts and message.
All of these great quotes plus many more, shaped the message of She Speaks in my heart to be this:
God knows the plans He has for me. His plans do not have an expiration date. However, I can choose not to align with them, or try to get ahead of Him. I need to be obedient and attentive to the thing He has placed in front of me right now. It’s not about me, it’s ALL about what He wants to do in and through me to minister to others. We are better when we work and partner together with the Holy Spirit and each other.
While at She Speaks, I got to make many new friendships and visit with many existing friends, one of which was Dr. Michelle Bengtson. Her new book Hope Prevails releases Augusts 16, 2016, and if you missed this week’s Lesson from the Lake Vlog– where I share about the powerful message of this book, please go check it out here: Hope Prevails Vlog
After I left She Speaks, I drove into the mountains of Tennessee to Pigeon Forge. No, I was not there to visit Dollywood, although, I may have to return so I can. I was there to meet with 3 other very special women in my life. One of these women, I have known personally for some time, but the other two, I met at a conference just 10 months ago. We each live in a different state from all over the country. We have different life experiences and varying church backgrounds but we have unity of spirit.
We have been gathering online and encouraging each other, but we decided we need to meet in person. There is something to be said about meeting face to face. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love modern technology, however, in order for relationships to go to the next level, you have to spend time with others, laugh with them, cry with them, dream with them, oh and shop with them (of course) and that is just what we did.
My friend Holly Barrett has a weekly podcast and while we were together, she invited us all to sit at the table with her and have a conversation. It was so much fun! You can listen to it here at: Living a Redeemed Life – 56. There is something to be said for gathering together.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10(ESV)
These three ladies, Holly Barrett, Mary Geisen, and Patti Krank inspire me and challenge me to be better. They allow me to be real, and they accept me for who I am. We pray, support, and champion each other. These women are gifted writers, bloggers, podcasters, mothers, photographers and the list goes on. I count it a privilege to have them in my life. If you haven’t been following their blogs or podcasts you need to. You can click on their names above or the links below. When you stop by make sure to leave a comment or two, or three…or better yet, show them some love and subscribe to their lists.
Tweet ThisOn our first night together, we were eating dinner at a restaurant that had a sign above one of the archways we walked through to get to our table. Mary noticed it, and mentioned it while we were waiting on our food …. I can’t remember the exact quote, (Mary & Patti commented below the phrase is: “Together is a wonderful place to be” – 🙂 Thanks ladies) but the phrase that stuck with me and keeps bouncing around in my head is: “We are better together.”
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We are better when we are united and not divided.
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We are better when we promote each other, and do not compete with one another.
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We are so much better when we celebrate each other instead of becoming jealous of one another.
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We are so much better when we focus on others rather than focus on our own needs.
Friends, this is so true –We are better together!
When my husband and I first step into the senior leadership role at our church, I found myself in charge of many things, women’s ministry included. I had and still do have a wonderful team of ladies. There is something powerful that happens when the Body of Christ gathers together united by the Spirit. But there is something extra special when women gather and are united. However, the enemy doesn’t want unity and tries to divide. At our very first Cherished Women’s Retreat, I saw this happen, and God gave me the words to write “Cherished Women Are…” I share it with you here today and pray it blessed you – because, WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER!
Cherished Women Are:
By Debbie Kitterman
Cherished Women Are Kingdom Warriors
Cherished Women Are women who do not gossip
Cherished Women Are women who are not jealous
Cherished Women Are loved and adored
Cherished Women Are women who call out the destiny of other women
Cherished Women Are women who build others up and champion each other, not fight against each other
Cherished Women Are Brave and Courageous
Cherished Women Are women who Bring Heaven to Earth Releasing the Kingdom of God EVERYWHERE they GO! To EVERYONE They meet!
PS – – I will have “Cherished Women Are …” available by next week as a free printable download, just for you my readers. However, it’s not on the computer I am currently traveling with.
PSS – – If you didn’t click on my friends names above here are the links where you can find them:
Holly Barrett writes, podcasts, and does the occasion Vlog at her site Reclaiming a Redeemed life at http://hollybarrett.org/
Mary Geisen writes, blogs, and shares her beautiful photography at her site Passage Through Grace – http://passagethroughgrace.com/
Patti Krank writes, blogs and shares her Freedom Friday posts, her beautiful home decor DIY projects and her 12th man recipes at her site Old Things New – http://www.oldthingsnewblog.com/
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My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Sunday’s
Monday’s
What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings
Tuesday’s
Wednesday’s
Thursday’s
Friday’s:
Saturday’s:
Love this and you! The sign said “Together is a wonderful place to be”. We are truly better together. I love your “Cherished Women” prayer, commissioning or whatever it should be called. I might use that idea for Brave Women are… for my retreat in November. I loved our time together and look forward to next in real life meet up.
Enjoy your time with John. You are a treasure my friend.
Ah Yes, that is exactly what is said!! – LOL – I should have just texted you 🙂 Thank you my friend and Yes – please feel free to use that idea for Brave Women are for your retreat in November. I loved our time together as well and I am looking forward to the next time.
So lovey to meet you debbie at she speaks – it was too short! have a great vacation and get recharged. we are better together, for sure and I loved your takeaways above. What’s you’re cherish retreat? I was just writing on that word this morning. xx
Sue – it was definitely too short for flying way across the country 🙂 Although, I was on brain overload by the end too. So, the name of our women’s ministry is Cherished Women and at the end of the year – usually in April, we have a women’s retreat with a different theme each year. We got the name Cherished women, because women of all ages from infant and above, need to know they are loved and Cherished as a daughter of the King. Where you writing a blog post on the word cherish this morning? If so I look forward to reading it. Have a fabulous weekend.
It was so awesome to have you here for a full two weeks and to get to experience so much together. She Speaks was so encouraging. I’m praying that God will take the message in your books and spread it further than you could ever imagine. Pigeon Forge was so much fun as the four of us had a chance to Go Deeper. It will be fun to listen to the Podcast and remember that day again. I look forward to what’s next with our little group.
I love your Cherished Women Are…list and look forward to the printable. Can we share it on our sites?
Thank you for being my friend Deb. Together is a wonderful place to be????
It was amazing to get to spend 2 whole weeks with you!!!! I cherish the times we get to spend together when I come visit and we always have so much fun. Thank you for you prayers my friend, they mean the world to me. I am so excited to listen to the Podcast too – it was so much fun, and added a great memory to an already fabulous trip! Yes, absolutely you can share the Cherished Women Are… on your site – thanks for asking. As soon as I get back home I will add the printable and let you know. Amen – Together is a wonderful place to be – and thank you for being my friend as well 🙂
How beautiful it is when God gives us encouragement and strength through His other daughters. Prayers as you go forward in what God has planned as a result of these meetings and new friendships. Visiting today from #FaithFilledFriday.
Karlene – it is most definitely a beautiful thing – we women sure do need to be together don’t we? Thank you so much for your prayers and thanks for stopping by today
Definitely better together! That message has been true since the beginning of time. I’m so thankful for all the “togethers” I get. I listened to Holly’s podcast this morning and loved getting to hear from all 4 of you beautiful ladies! Sounds like y’all had an amazing time together.
Lisa – you are so right – it’s been true since the beginning of time!I like how you said it. 🙂 Oh yes, we had a most wonderful time together – and I am so glad you were able to listen to Holly’s podcast too. Blessings
Yes! I am finding this truth to be so true! That is just what I have been telling my friend who co-leads a Bible study with me. We are amazed at what God does in our class every week. Neither of us would have even attempted to lead the class on our own, but when we are together, we feel braver, smarter and more anointed. We are have very different personalities, strengths and weaknesses, yet have kindred spirits.
I am also finding this to be true with my launch team for my Scripture Coloring Book for Adults. I am so amazed by the kindness, generosity, talent, and enthusiasm of the sweet ladies on my team.
And it is right in line with my ONE THEME for this year— Connect – with JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself)
JoDitt – that is so good that you and your friend are leading a study together and are gifted differently – it is so important, I think to partner with others who aren’t like us, so we can offer others a more complete package. 🙂
You have an adult coloring book!?! That is awesome – I love adult coloring books and I a so glad you have a team who is championing you and your book with generosity and enthusiasm – that is so the way God has called us to be – united – supporting one another in unity! Yay – we are definitely better together – I am so glad you coud stop in for a visit and share about your book and your theme for the year, which by the way, I like.. I especially how you turned JOY into an acronym
I love so much about your post – that quote from Whitney!! I didn’t have the opportunity to attend She Speaks, but I did get to watch Lisa’s message and just wow. And you’re sweet group of encouragers – I’m fans of you all! Thanks for sharing your insight and praying that God’s perfect plan unfolds for you in beautiful ways! Glad to be your neighbor at #testimonytuesday today.
Thank you so much Tiffany! The quote from Whitney is so good and when I share it with others it is moves them too. and Lysa’s message was so powerful – I messaged all my friends and those on our leadership team back home to watch it as well.. So Powerful and life changing. I am so glad you were my neighbor today at #TestimonyTuesday ad that you enjoy my friends as well. Thank you so much for your prayers – it will be very exciting to watch God unfold all He has in store, in His timing. Blessings to you
Debbie, I am so glad to read about the wonderful results of your time at the Conference and the retreat with your friends as well! It’s been so good to be your neighbor these many weeks over at Meg’s #TeaAndWordTuesday. How wonderful to see the way that God won the battle, as I remember your post several weeks ago detailing the Spiritual Warfare that you felt going into those trips! God is so good! Thank you for sharing with all of us the fruit that the Lord is bringing to Harvest! –Blessings!
Bettie – Yes, God is so good, and what a battle it was during that time, but my God was victorious in fighting for me. I have enjoyed getting to know you through your words posted each week at Meg’s as well. I’m still praying in and waiting for the fruit of this trip, but I know God is faithful and His timing is always right. Blessings to you as well.
Debbie, I so enjoyed this post. Each quote you shared was one to think on this morning. And I loved the interview you all did together with Holly. Such fun. Grateful to have stopped here this morning. Blessings!
Joanne – the podcast with Holly was one of the highlights of my trip – so much fun! I am glad you enjoyed the quotes I shared, they are definitely food for thought that I am still chewing on and processing. thanks for stopping by today
Visiting from Purposeful Faith. Your title immediately drew me in! SO TRUE! We are so much better together! Thanks for this post, loved all the quotes from She Speaks and good for you on going again and pursuing all God has for you! Blessings friend.
Holly, I am so glad you agree and that the title drew you in – yay — we are definitely better together in all areas of our lives. I am so happy to have you stop by today. Blessings to you as well.
Debbie, it sounds like it was a wonderful time of refreshment and encouragement.
Blessings as you take what you learned into the rest of your year. I can’t want to hear about what those publishers have to say!
BTW I’m visiting today from Women with Intention.
Donna – so glad you could stop by for a visit today! It was a very wonderful refreshing time indeed. I will most certainly keep you all posted if anything comes about with the publishers. 🙂
Happy Anniversary and I have to say, you got that song stuck in my head, too. 🙂 Thanks for joining us at #FridayFrivolity!
Thank you so much – and sorry, about the song — I figured I needed to add someone with me as the song keeps replaying in my head . Have a great weekend.
I loved the quotes you shared with us, Debbie! Those are down right profound enough I want to stick on my fridge! I am sorry you had a bad experience years ago, and my thoughts with that were, “I wonder if it was they who had a wrong perspective or attitude, or did you just hone a better way of explaining your heart this time?” Not to be nosy, just thinking and asking aloud here for wisdom.
That is so cool you ladies got to actually hang out. My heart longs for that as well -many of my relationships here at home do not leave room for resonating on the writing level. In fact, I find myself purposely not talking about it because of the responses or lack thereof, I get. It is tough when you feel something you are so passionate about has to be put on a shelf around those closest to you. I guess this is an issue in my heart that needs to be dealt with?!
I will be praying for you, for God to open the door HE wants you through and please pray for me too! Thanks so much for sharing this priceless info today and linking up, friend!
Meghan – I am so glad you enjoyed the quotes – feel free to post them on the fridge, the mirror in your car – anywhere you need to put them to help remind yourself – that is exactly what I do 🙂
And you are not being nosy, I think it was a couple of things with that bad experience years ago .. They did not have a clue about what I was talking about, they held a very conservative view and really had no frame of reference for the spiritual gift of prophecy.. Also, I had just started writing the project and it was not fully developed into what it ended up being in the end. So it was a little of both. 🙂
I completely understand how you feel, and I say if you can’t have the face to face relationships with people near you, then you get them any way you can, online join a mastermind or another writing type group and pursue and develop relationship with like minded writers. I will also be praying you find your ‘tribe’ locally, but until then May you be strengthen in the Lord and be at peace knowing that He will bring someone to your attention that can be your confidant and cheerleader in the things that matter most to you.
thank you for your prayers, that is exactly what I want – the doors opened that He wants opened and me walking through…. I’ve tried to many times to shove doors open, that I wanted opened – it never has worked… and if the doors don’t open this time, I am ok with that too. Blessings to you my friend. 🙂
I am so proud of you! You are stepping out, it is your time. I love it when we can see that God is moving things around to work for us or to protect us. Not only did you get encouragement to keep on going, but you are taking steps to touch many more people with your gifts.
I’m glad that you got to spend time with the other ladies, it seems as if it was good for all of you. You need that. As hard as you work you need to take a bit of time to fill back up!
THANK YOU! It feels good to be stepping out past the fear and thoughts of it’s not possible…and God is meeting me on the other side, working things out, opening some doors and closing others.
Thank you so much for being such an encourager yourself and also for sharing freely your wisdom and expertise on your own blog … I have learned many things from you and know I will continue to do so.
Oh and yes, it is so important to recharge and refuel – something I had to learn the hard way.