Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends,

We pray that you have a blessed Christmas rejoicing in Jesus and all that His coming means to our salvation, relationship with Him, and eternity! It is truly an amazing thing to think about...

Know that you are loved - by your Savior and by us. We love loving Jesus with you!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Your friends at Loving the Lord Ministries

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Jesus loves you!

Sitting at Jesus' Feet

Sitting at Jesus’ feet… Have you known the wonder of what this really is?

No matter what time of year, we can get so busy running around – for the Lord and His Kingdom, participating things about Him, etc. – that we don’t take much time to BE with Him – I mean REALLY be with Him. Oh, friends, what we miss!

I am not talking about grabbing quick times in the Word, prayer, etc. – though every moment with Jesus is GOOD – but, coming to Jesus and really stopping so you can know His presence in a real way.

Jesus longs to have you sit at His feet. He wants to meet with you, be real to you, satisfy you with His love, fill you with joy through His presence, and infuse you with grace for all He has for you.

We have a real-life example in the Bible of two sisters who were learning this lesson:
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Can’t we be the same way as Martha? “I am SO busy!” is something that we are all saying to each other. But, busy with what? If we are too busy for the most important thing – the “one thing” Jesus says is “necessary,” we are too busy (even if it is lots of service FOR Him)!

Let’s ask ourselves - Today, what can we do to make it possible? Maybe it means giving up: internet time, magazines, texting, extra time in front of the mirror, TV, or maybe even missing a meal… but, none of these really compare to real time with Jesus. (If you can’t relate, I encourage you to try it and see!)

Find a good place. Grab a cozy blanket, wrap it around you, and kneel/sit. I usually treasure silence – but, if there is a lot of noisy “surround sound”, you could turn on some soft instrumental music to help you focus. I love to come before the Lord and say, “I am here, Lord.” Share your heart with Him in prayer, listen for His voice, open His precious letter to you (the Bible), and journal what He is showing you.

Friends, this is something that the Lord has been really working in my heart in a fresh way recently. I have been seeing the absolute beauty and JOY of sitting at His feet all over again… and He has been meeting with me in such sweet ways and transforming my heart! Oh, how we need this time with Him - and when you see Him, you just love Him more and more!

Jesus is calling you. Will you respond? It is so worth anything that you give up. Don’t let less important things crowd this out. Through it you receive time with the greatest treasure of all – JESUS - and you will never be the same!

Let’s remember these Truths:
- “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” Lam. 3:25
- “The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:10
- “Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18
- “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
- “…You make him glad with the joy of Your presence.” Psalm 16:11

Have a wonderful time with Jesus, friends! I am going to go back and sit at His feet a little longer…

Give Thanks...

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"
~ Psalm 118:29

Dear Friends,

I hope you are all doing so well in Jesus!

These have been some full and beautiful months! I know that the Lord has powerfully been at work in each of our hearts in the midst of whatever our days have held. I wish we could just sit down for a cup of hot cocoa and catch up!

Personally, the Lord has been meeting with me, working in my heart, and showing me afresh how fully satisfying He is. I need Him and love Him so much! I look forward to sharing more in the days to come and loving Him more together.

On the ministry front, conferences are done for the rest of the year, so now we are catching our breath, working on ministry projects, and looking to the Lord as we prepare for the days ahead. It will be so good to be more frequent in seeking the Lord together on here. Stay tuned for more!

Know that you are deeply loved - by your Savior and by us. You have a big sister who is praying for you right now...

The Lord's richest blessings to each of you as you continue to seek Him - nothing is better!!!

Seeking Him with you,

Amy

Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

Washington "Pure Heart" Conference Report

The Lord met with us and moved in powerful ways at the "Pure Heart" Conference at Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center in Sumas, Washington last Saturday.


It was a beautiful group of young women, women, and older women who desired to embrace Jesus and to live lives of purity.


The Lord was evidently working all day long in many ways!


Girls and women came up in tears expressing how God was meeting with them, changing them, and how they wanted to live for Him.


We all saw afresh how desperately we all need Jesus and need Him to purify us so we can know and live for Him to the fullest for His glory!!!


We are looking forward to all that the Lord has in store for the days ahead as each one continues to seek Him and as He completes the work that He began!

"...Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22

Washington "Pure Heart" Conference - This Weekend!

We are so excited for the "Pure Heart" purity conference taking place this Saturday, October 16th in Sumas, Washington! Anticipation is building for all that the Lord has in store! We would love to have you and your friends join us for this life-changing event.

The conference runs from 9:00am - 7:30pm on Saturday. This conference is especially recommended for young women ages 11-19 and their mothers, mentors, or guardians.

Topics include:
~ The real purpose for purity
~ What purity looks like in real life
~ How to encourage yourself and others towards purity
~ Approaching guy relationships in a way that glorifies the Lord
~ Embracing a life of joy and contentment in Jesus - in every season of life
~ Living every day to the fullest for God's glory
~ A call to transforming purity

Information Links:

The cost is $25 per person, $50 for mother and daughter, and $15 for each additional daughter.

For even more information, you can visit our website at www.lovingthelordministries.org!

You can contact Cedar Springs Retreat Center with any questions.
Contact person: Doris Rempel
Email: doris.rempel@gmail.com
Phone: 360.988.6674
Address: Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center, 4700 Minaker Rd., Sumas, Wa 98295

Feel free to invite your friends! We hope to see you there!

The Lord has been using this message to transform the hearts and lives of young women and woman across the country. We believe that the Lord has amazing things to do in each of us as we meet with Him in this event!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
~ Zephaniah 3:17

"Pure Heart" MN Conference Report

We are continuing to stand in awe of the Lord and the powerful way that He moved in our midst during the "Pure Heart" Conference at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 10-11th.



The Lord's presence was very real in our time. Hearts were eager for Him, His Truth, and to live lives and purity to the fullest for His glory!



Together we looked at God's incredible purpose of purity, where purity starts, how we live it out in real life, and the amazing fruit the Lord brings in our relationship with Him, making us like Him, and using us for His glory.


He did a powerful work among us and we give Him all of the glory! People met with Jesus. Hearts were transformed. Decisions were made. Vision was received. Action is now being taken...




We are excited beyond words for all that the Lord has in store for each young woman and woman as they continue to seek Him and to live a life of purity for His glory!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

"Pure Heart" Conference Report - Coming Soon!

The Lord met with us and moved in powerful ways at the "Pure Heart" Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota this past weekend! We are praising Him and look forward to sharing an update and pictures soon!

Summer Devotions Challenge Ends Today

We are so excited about all of you across the country and the world who have chosen to take the Summer Devotions Challenge this summer! It has been so thrilling to talk with you over the summer and to hear your excitement about meeting with the Lord!!!

While the Summer Devotions Challenge ends today, we pray that this is only the beginning of a life-long adventure of daily seeking, knowing, and walking with the Lord! It truly is what we were created for!

We would LOVE to hear your stories of what the Lord has done in your hearts, a special verse He gave you, something you have found helpful in doing your devotions or memorizing Scripture, or anything else you want to share! Please email these to us at info@lovingthelordministries.org!

We would love to post some of your stories on the blog in the days to come! If you want to send them to us along with pictures of you having your devotions, you with your accountability partner, etc., we would love to post them with your stories! We believe this will be a great encouragement to other girls in following the Lord!

Also, be sure to send in your charts to us by September 6th, so we can send you your reward!!!
Please send it to:
Summer Devotions Challenge
Loving the Lord Ministries
5385 Carlson Road
Shoreview, MN 55126
If you have any questions, you can email Elizabeth at elizabeth@lovingthelordministries.org.

We are so excited that you are seeking the Lord and are praying that your relationship with Him will only grow all of the days of your life!

"But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Psalm 147:11

"...the Lords takes pleasure in those who fear him,in those who hope in his steadfast love."
~ Psalm 147:11

"Pure Heart" Conference Preparations!

We are full of excitement as we are gearing up for the "Pure Heart" purity conference being held at Bethlehem Baptist Church on September 10-11th! We know that the Lord has incredible things in store and we can't wait to seek Him with everyone! This is not your average purity conference and we believe it will be a life-changing weekend for everyone who allows the Lord to work!

The Lord has brought together an amazing staff of young women for the conference who have hearts for the Lord and a passion to serve Him! They are investing their time, talent, heart, and lots of prayer into a conference that glorifies the Lord and blesses all who attend.

We hope to see you on September 10-11th in Minneapolis, Minnesota!



You can click on the following links to read more information, view the brochure, or register.

May the Lord bless you as you seek to live lives of purity for His glory!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." ~ Matthew 5:8

"Pure Heart" Conference - September 10-11th - Minneapolis, MN

We are bursting with excitement over as we announce the "Pure Heart" purity conference coming on September 10-11^th in Minneapolis, Minnesota! Anticipation is building for all that the Lord has in store! We would love to have you and your friends join us for this life-changing event.

The conference runs from Friday, September 10th at 6:00pm - Saturday, September 11th at 12:00 noon. This conference is especially recommended for young women ages 11-19 and their mothers, mentors, or guardians.

Topics include:
~ The real purpose for purity
~ What purity looks like in real life
~ How to encourage yourself and others towards purity
~ Approaching guy relationships in a way that glorifies the Lord
~ Embracing a life of joy and contentment in Jesus - in every season of life
~ Living every day to the fullest for God's glory
~ A call to transforming purity

Information Links:
- Brochure
- Registration - is quick and easy online
- Details

The cost is $25/girl and $20/mother, mentor, or guardian.

For even more information, you can visit our website at www.lovingthelordministries.org! You can contact Betty Dodge at betty.dodge@hopeingod.org with any questions. Feel free to invite your friends! We hope to see you there!

The Lord has been using this message to transform the hearts and lives of young women and woman across the country. We believe that the Lord has amazing things to do in each of us as we meet with Him in this event!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Psalm 63:1-3

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."

~ Psalm 63:1-3

Family Summit - There is Still Room!!!

We wanted to let you know that there is still room to register for the 2010 "Christ Centered Vision" Family Summit on July 16-18th!

We would LOVE to have you and your family join us for this time of seeking the Lord, amazing fellowship, powerful teaching focused on Christ and gaining His vision for your family, campfires, vision setting, fun family activities, delicious food, and so much more!

For more information, you can visit the website www.lovingthelordministries.org. You can contact Breanna at breanna@lovingthelordministries.org with questions!

We hope to see you there!

A Summer Devotions Challenge Testimony

Here is a testimony from a 9 year old who took the Summer Challenge last year and is continuing to find amazing results!

Hi! My name is Nadia Anderson, I am 9 years old, and I want to thank the Lord for the “Summer Challenge” that I joined last year!

It was always hard for me to remember to read my Bible and pray. Mom would remind me, but it didn’t seem to stick.

When I started the Summer Challenge it got me into the habit of having my quiet time with the Lord EVERYDAY!! Now I try to read at least one chapter a day and hide God’s Word in my heart by memorizing verses...

The Summer Challenge is a VERY GOOD way to get in the habit of meeting with the Lord EVERYDAY, and I hope you will try it this Summer!!

God bless you! Nadia Anderson

Summer Devotions Challenge Starts Today!

Dear Friends,

Today is the first day of the Summer Challenge!! We are SO excited about each one of you who have chosen to take part in the Summer Devotions Challenge this summer! We know the Lord has amazing things in store. Seeking Him is SO WORTH IT!!!

I spent some time this morning thinking about the incredible impact personal devotions have had on my walk with the Lord. As I looked back over the years, I saw how POWERFULLY the Lord has used my personal time of meeting with Him to draw me closer to Him!

I remember a stage of my life where I was hearing about God and praying to Him...but felt so much like I was meant for more in my relationship with Him. It was as I faithfully would seek to meet with Him in my devotions that He became so real to me.

That is what I am so excited about for each one of us this summer! There is SO MUCH MORE of Jesus to know! The closer we grow to Him, the more we will know Him (not just in our head, but in our hearts). The more we know Him for Who He is, the more we will be fulfilled in Him, love Him, be like Him, and desire to know Him more!

Our theme verse for the Summer Devotions Challenge is Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

There are 2 special parts in this verse to especially remember as you do the Challenge:
1. “He is” - That the Lord is REAL and is waiting to make Himself known to you as you seek Him.
2. “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” - He always rewards those who seek Him. The more you seek Him, the more you will find Him. He is the greatest reward you could ever seek!

For special ideas on how to spend your time, you can visit the website www.lovingthelordministries.org and read the article “Growing in Christ” under the Encouragement tab. Also, stay tuned on the blog www.lovingthelord.org for more encouragement through the summer as we seek the Lord together!

Know that you are in my prayers. God has great things ahead!

I am so grateful to be seeking Him with you,

Amy

2010 Summer Devotions Challenge

It is with great excitement that we invite all girls and young women to take part in the 2010 Summer Devotions Challenge! We know that the Lord has awesome things in store!

Summer is a wonderful time of year. We enjoy beautiful weather, a more relaxed schedule, lots of fun activities, etc. Yet, with all of the busyness of running from one thing to the next, irregular schedules, etc. we can sometimes become distracted from what is really important, get disillusioned, and feel discouraged. We can so often come to the end of the summer and feel a kind of emptiness that results from getting off track in our walk with the Lord. Just as the grass needs to be watered to keep from drying out in the bright sunlight, so our souls need constant refreshment from time with the Lord and His Word in the midst of many often pleasure oriented activities.

Now that summer is almost here, bringing with it a change of pace, it is the perfect time to begin! So, we want to invite you to join a bunch of other girls and young women across the nation in taking part in this challenge! We promise you that it will make your summer so much more meaningful and that you will look back at the end of your summer and be so grateful for every moment that you spent with the Lord! The greatest rewards will be a closer walk with the Lord and knowing His Word and ways in a much better way. Details are below.

Summer Challenge 2010

Dates: Begin June 1st and end August 31st.

Rules:
- Spend at least 15 min. a day (or more!) in devotions with the Lord. Your devotions can include; prayer, Bible reading and study, etc. (Do at least 5 minutes of Bible reading during this time!)
- Memorize at least 1 Bible verse a week and recite it to your accountability partner.
- Choose and call an accountability partner at least once every two weeks to check up on daily devotions and memorizing, and to share prayer requests.
If you don't get all 15 minutes in on one day, you are allowed to make them up by the end of the week. So, at the end of the week you need to have a total of 105 minutes. You will be given 3 grace days for the summer, but try not to miss a day! Really try to get the verse done each week, but if you don't, you are allowed to make it up the following week. You must be caught up with all of your memorization by the end of each month!

- Keep track of your time on your Summer Challenge Chart. (You can download the chart on the LTL Ministries website!)
- E-mail the Summer Challenge Team at elizabeth@lovingthelordministries.org when you begin to participate in the Summer Challenge.

You are welcome to invite friends! If someone hears about it and gets a late start, they can still participate. However, they just must make up so that they have the same time total by the end of the summer as they would have if they had started June 1st! They can copy your chart, download a chart from the Loving the Lord Ministries website, or make their own chart!

- We would love it if you would record a testimony of what the Lord did in your life and showed you in His Word this summer on the back of your Summer Challenge Chart!
- There will be a prize of your choice of a conference VHS set (Beautiful to God or Friendship) for each girl who completes the challenge. These will be sent after we recieve your charts on or before September 6th!

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

We are looking forward with you to the best summer of our lives!

April Girls Discipleship Gathering Report

Here is a report from Elizabeth on the final Girls Monthly Discipleship Gathering:

This past Girls Gathering we listened to our last session from the "Changing Your World for Christ" series called “The Impact of One Life Lived for God.” We all enjoyed some quiet time after the session to write out our life purpose statement, pray through it or just spend some alone time with Jesus. The Lord led us to share prayer requests for each other and pray for one another. It was a really special of taking our burdens to Jesus and caring for each other through prayer. May we all continue to lean on God’s everlasting arms as we lay our cares before Him.

May the Lord bless you all as you continue to seek Him and allow Him to touch the world for Himself through your lives!

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 6:14 &16

2 Corinthians 6:17-18

"...Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

What do you stay awake for?

I saw this in a coffee shop the other day and my heart echoed its message. May Jesus be our reason to live and breathe!

"...Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

Purity Conference Follow-up - Week 4 - A Call to Transforming Purity

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

So, my friends, the question remains - “What are YOU going to do with the call to purity?”

It is a personal call and you must choose to respond. Embrace a life that is set apart for Christ. Have a total commitment to purity in every area of your life - no matter the cost. Remember the purpose and promised results - to see the Lord and make Him known. Matt. 16:24-25, Rom. 12:1

Start today.
Keep pursuing Christ with all that you are. (See Follow-up Week 1.)
Allow Christ to continue His work in you.
As He works in you and purifies you, He then will increasingly be able to work through you to reach a needy world for Himself.

Allow the Lord to use you wherever He has you - view LIFE as a ministry! Matt. 5:16 (We will be looking at ways that you can serve the Lord in mighty ways right where you are in the days to come!)

Don’t settle for anything less than the Lord’s best for purity, your walk with Him, and His work through you! Phil. 3:14

As a result, your life, others’ lives, and eternity will never be the same!

Will you embrace Christ’s call to a life of purity for His glory?

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Announcing the 2010 Summer Devotions Challenge!

The 2010 Summer Devotions Challenge will be starting on June 1st and running through August 31st. We would love to have you join us for an amazing summer of seeking the Lord! Check back for more information coming soon and stay posted on the website at www.lovingthelordministries.org!!!

Purity Conference Follow-up - Week 3 - Relationships, Your Future, & the Will of God

“The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil ALL the days of her life.”
~ Proverbs 31:11-12 (Emphasis added)

God has an amazing design for relationships. Remember the Chief End of Man - “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Human relationships are designed to encourage us to glorify God and enjoy Him! The Lord knows how we can best do this - married or single!

Having a pure heart and being fulfilled in Christ will enable you to have healthy, God-honoring relationships with young men. When you are in this place is when you experience the freedom of seeking and serving the Lord in the way for which we were intended. Then everyone is challenged on in the Lord and HE is glorified, as a result!

This area is safest and best when given and trusted to the Lord.
It is safest in His hands! The Author of our faith, the One who IS LOVE, and the One who designed romance - can be totally trusted. He writes the best love stories.
Surrender it to God. Leave it in God’s hands. He will fulfill His best for you.

Remember: “God always gives His very best to those who leave the choice with Him.” Hudson Taylor

Application:
Try applying some of the practical application steps we talked about as you approach guy relationships:
- Seek to point everyone to Christ vs. yourself.
- Be a “one-man woman.” Save yourself - heart, mind, and body - for your future husband.
- Remember that each one is someone’s future husband.

Seek the Lord and:
- Know where you stand on your commitment to physical purity.
- Decide with your parents on the approach you will take in considering relationships.
- Make a list of qualities that would be critical in a potential husband. (Go for things like “a deep love for God” vs. “hates broccoli” or “looks amazing”!)

Give those this area of your life to the Lord, focus on loving and living for Him, embrace this season that you are in with all of your heart, trust Him for your future, and see what beautiful things He does!

-------

Personal note from Amy:
This was an amazing session with you all! It is such a deeply important topic and I think we all (me included) experienced everything from deep conviction to laughing until we cried. (I will never forget the moment of meeting “Mr. J. Butterpickle!”) Your hearts to glorify God in this area blessed me so much! May He richly bless you as you seek His best!!!

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

~ Deuteronomy 7:9

Purity Conference Follow-up - Week 2 - Purity in Real Life

Purity starts in our heart and comes out in how we live.

Mark 12:30 tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all of your mind, and with all of your strength...”

We prove our love for the Lord through obedience. We can evidence our love through purity of heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Heart - Your heart state, and what you love and believe, will impact every area of your life. Colossians 3:1-3, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Soul - The process of being purified starts at salvation and is life-long and essential.
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Mind - It is essential that you accept the Lord’s grace to control and purify your mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Strength - What you do is an outflow of what is in your heart and is so important. Romans 6:13, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Application:
1. Ask the Lord for His help to live in purity. We cannot live a life of purity on our own - but, He promises to give us grace for all that He calls us to do. Ask Him for His grace daily.

2. Fill your heart, soul, and mind with pure things.
Stop and evaluate what you are reading, listening to, watching, and thinking about. Ask yourself, “Will this encourage me towards the Lord and purity, or draw me away?” Be purposeful in filling your life with pure things and things that will encourage you in purity and loving Jesus.
These things include: - Memorizing Scripture - Listening to pure music - Reading books that will encourage you in your relationship with the Lord and purity - Spending time with friends who are seeking Jesus and purity - Listening to sermons and attending conferences - and so much more!
Choose one of these things to focus on in a special way this week.

3. Make pure choices to live in a pure way - each moment of each day.
This includes what you think, what you say, how you act, your attitudes, and what you do with your body. Stop and ask yourself, “Is how I am living at this moment pleasing the Lord through purity?” Remember, you are living to please and see Him!!! Every action has consequences. So, today as you decide what to think about, listen to, look at, do, etc. remember Who you are living for and the results of living a life of purity (See Follow up Week 1). It is a daily choice that bears incredible fruit.

Memory verse: Mark 12:30,“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength...”

As a result, the Lord will bring incredible impact in your life and the lives of others - from now through eternity!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

May the Lord bless you as you seek to know Him and live lives of purity! We are praying for you and seeking with you!!! It is so worth it.

March Girls Discipleship Gathering Report

During our March Girls Gathering we finished Amy’s teaching about "Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls." After worshiping together, listening to Amy and sharing together we had the privilege of writing encouragement cards to women who are in prison. By God’s grace we were able to make quite a few and we were thankful to be able to witness in this way of God’s love for these women. We hope you can join us for our last Girls Gathering on April 24th from 10:00-12:30 at Vision of Glory Church. Even if this is your first time at a Girls Gathering we would love to see you there!!!

ND "Pure Heart" Conference Recap Video

"Pure Heart" Conference Report - ND

Last weekend was the launch of the “Pure Heart” Purity Conference in Fargo, North Dakota.



We are continuing to stand in awe of what the Lord did. He moved in an evident way and girls, young women, and women responded to Him in longing to know Him and live lives of purity to His glory.



Amy spoke on: The Heartbeat of Purity, Purity in Real Life, Relationships, Your Future, and the Will of God, and A Call to Transforming Purity.


She also spoke on Friday evening to parents and young people on “The Power and Potential of Your Youth for God.”


It was an amazing group and the times of interaction during and after sessions were incredible. Many expressed the desire and need to be challenged in passionately following Christ and purity on a regular basis in light of all that we face encouraging us in the opposite direction.

We all came away with a new perspective and passion to embrace purity like never before. Our hearts are full of anticipation for what the Lord is going to do as a result! We are thrilled beyond words and give the Lord all of the glory!




We would love to have you join us for an upcoming “Pure Heart” conference! You can visit our website (www.lovingthelordministries.org) to find one near you in the coming months!

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Purity Conference Follow-up - Week 1 - The Purpose of Purity

For Week 1 of the “Pure Heart” follow-up, we are going to focus on 3 elements of Session 1 - Purpose, Purge, and Pursue.

Purpose -
Do you remember the deepest purpose for purity - and for living? To “glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” right? We will never know true fulfillment unless we are fulfilling the purpose for which we were created! Yet, you cannot truly glorify God or enjoy Him unless you know Him!
It is so important that we are sure that we have first come to Christ for salvation and initial cleansing. Then, it is critical that we pursue a true relationship with the Lord - and that He becomes REAL to YOU! The more this happens, the more you will want to have a pure heart so that you can see Him clearly!
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8
When our heart is truly after the Lord and purity, we will desire not to see how close, but how far away, from sin we can get!

Purge -
It is so important you seek the Lord to reveal the sins, hindrances, distractions, and idols that are blocking the way of your relationship with Him - and then accept His grace to deal with them. See the seriousness of them - that they are hindering your relationship with JESUS - and don’t tolerate them!
- Sin (Disobeying God)
- Hindrance (Things that are holding you back from Christ and all that He has for you)
- Distractions (Things that are taking your attention from Christ.)
- Idols (anything that is taking the Lord’s rightful place in your heart)
Like you helped me list, these things can be:
- friends - hobbies - cell phone - internet/Facebook - clothes - money - guys - books - activities - use of time - movies - good things (like ministry) taking priority over the Lord
Receive the Lord’s grace to remove them - and then replace them with pure things that will encourage you in Him!
2 Timothy 2:22, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Pursue -
Remember that relationships take investment and pursuing! Every effort that you put into seeking the Lord will be rewarded - and is SO worth it!
Here is a review of some ways to deepen your relationship with the Lord:
- Make Him #1 priority - “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
- Devotions - For a special article on having devotions that change your life, you can visit the LTLM website under the “Encouragement” section.
- Reading His Word - This is where He speaks to you, shows you Who He is, how to live for Him, etc.
- Talking with Him (Prayer) - Remember to treat it like a conversation - 2 way vs. just talking TO God.
- Learning about Him - receiving teaching, reading books, listening to talks, etc.
- Journal - record what the Lord is doing in your heart, write prayers to Him, etc.
Ask yourself - “What are things that help increase love for Jesus?”
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Seeking the Lord and purity through purpose, purging, and pursuit will bring powerful results in your heart, walk with Him, and life!

Remember, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8

Application:
- Purpose - Ask yourself, what is my motivation for purity? Ask the Lord for a deeper desire for a pure heart, so that you can see, know, and walk with Him like you were created to!
- Purge - Go before the Lord and ask Him to reveal the sins, hindrances, distractions, and idols that are blocking the way of your relationship with Him. Pray through them with Him, ask His forgiveness, yield them to Him, and ask for His grace to fill those areas with Himself!
- Pursue - Find one thing that you will focus on each day for the next week to help you grow in your relationship with the Lord. (Devotions, Scripture memory, Bible study, prayer, journal, etc.)

Memory Verse: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8

We would love to have you write and share testimonies of what the Lord is doing in your heart as you seek Him!

May the Lord bless you so richly as you allow your relationship with Him to be your motivation for life - and purity!

Purity Conference Follow-up

Welcome to all of our new friends from the Purity Conference last weekend! We loved seeking the Lord together with you and are standing in awe of all that He did in our midst. It is so exciting that the time was just the beginning of a life lived for Him and longing for a pure heart. We are claiming the promise of Philippians 1:6 for us as we continue to seek Him and live lives of purity for His glory!

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6

The Purity Conference Follow-up will start this Wednesday, March 24th, and we will post the focus of the week each Wednesday after that for the 4 weeks of the Follow-up! We are so excited to continue to follow the Lord together as we seek to apply the things we covered to our lives!

May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to seek and love Him with purity.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

April Girls Monthly Discipleship Gathering - Rescheduled

Please Note that - THE APRIL GIRL'S DISCIPLESHIP GATHERING IS RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24th! It will be held at the same time and location. We hope to see you there as we conclude a special year of seeking the Lord! You can contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lovingthelordministries.org with any questions!

February Girls Discipleship Gathering Report

At the Girls Gathering we were challenged and refreshed as we listened to Amy speak on Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls. We spent sometime alone writing out our personal testimony. We also shared prayer requests with each other and committed to pray for one another. Before we departed we all had witnessing tracks with us, ready to see how God would use them. Please join us at the next Girls Gathering as we wrap up this session on Gaining a Passion for Souls. We meet at Vision of Glory Church in Plymouth and our next gathering is March 13th from 10:00-12:30.

Family Summit - Early Registration Discount!

We are offering a $30 discount for those who register for the Family Summit before March 31st! Registrations are coming in and we encourage you to register soon to secure your spot! We are really looking forward to all that the Lord has in store for this time of seeking Him together!

For more information on the Summit and to register, you can visit our website at www.lovingthelordministries.org!

Encouragement Card Ministry - Elizabeth's Testimony

A little note of introduction from Amy - I asked my assistant Elizabeth to share about a special ministry that the Lord has given her through writing cards of encouragement. So many times the Lord has encouraged my heart through her cards. This is something that you can do from your home that can be a huge source of blessing and encouragement to others in their walks with the Lord!

~
Elizabeth writes:
I started writing letter’s when I was a young girl and loved especially receiving them! I have continued to write letters but with a special purpose in mind and that is to be an encouragement to others. The Lord has shown me at different times who I am to write to and different Bible verses that would especially speak to their heart.

I have a precious friend who’s name is Anna and during the years she attended Bible school I wrote her letters. She mentioned to me a specific letter I had written that God used to speak to her in a special way. At the time of this letter, Anna felt like the people around her were misunderstanding her heart. The Lord used these Bible verses in the letter to bring encouragement to Anna, Ps. 62:7-8 “My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." It was reassuring to Anna that God knew her heart and she could find refuge in Jesus.

Sending letters is a special blessing! Remember this small act of love in writing letters can be such a blessing to the people in your life! So, when you hear of somebody who is extra tired, sick, or going through a difficult time, think about sending a letter and ask God what you should write!!!

Announcing the NEW "Pure Heart" Purity Conference!!!

It is with great excitement that we announce the launch of the new purity conference for young women! This is a special conference for young women ages 12 and over and their mothers.

The topics we will cover include:

Session 1 - The Heartbeat of Purity -
The Lord has a far deeper purpose in purity than meets the eye. It is crucial that we understand the value of having a heart (and hence a life) that is so pure that we are clearly able to see, know, and glorify the Lord in the way for which we were created to. This is where true and lasting fulfillment is found. This is to be our motivation for purity, which should lead us to not see how close we can get to sin, but how far from it we can go.

Session 2 - Purity in Real Life -
How does true purity manifest itself in real life? What does it look like? We are going to cover what it means and looks like to love the Lord our God through purity of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We will cover what purity looks like in; heart (loving Christ above all), soul (having a clear conscience, not tolerating sin), mind (thoughts, etc), strength (actions, words, physical, and modest appearance).

Session 3 - Relationships, Your Future, and the Will of God -
We are going to look at a pure approach to relationships with young men, to considering marriage, and to trusting God for his best for your life. We will cover this with a challenge to live very area of life with our main purpose in life and in mind—glorifying God and enjoying Him forever!

Session 4 - A Call to Transforming Purity -
Once we have seen a picture of transforming purity, one thing remains; how YOU are going to respond? You are called to live a vibrant life of purity for Christ that glorifies Him, fulfills you, and blesses others. It is your decision and you will reap the results. How will you embrace this call and experience all the Lord has in store?

Conferences Scheduled:
~ March 19-20th - Fargo, North Dakota - Holiday Inn Convention Center
~ September 10-11th - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Bethlehem Baptist Church
~ October 16th - Sumas, Washington - Cedar Springs Retreat Center

Please visit the "Events" section of our website to find out more details on registering for a conference!

We invite you to contact us for more information on hosting a conference in your area!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

January Girls Discipleship Gathering Report

At the last Girls Gathering we listened to a message by Amy called “Getting a Vision From the Lord for Your Life”. We all enjoyed this message immensely and God spoke to us in wonderful and special ways! We spent some time reading a list of ministry ideas that the Lord may want us to do in the coming year.

Here is a list of some of those things:

- Praying for people, missionaries, etc.
- Pass out Gospel tracts.
- Writing notes, sending e-mails, or making calls of encouragement in the Lord to others (friends, younger girls or children, pastor, missionaries, parents)
- Serving your family.
- Teaching your siblings Bible verses, doing a Bible study with them, praying together
- Be involved in ministry at church, when able. Help with Sunday School, AWANA, in the kitchen, in the nursery, etc.
- Earn and find ways to save money so that you can support missions.
- Mentoring those younger than you (children, girls)
- Start a Girls Discipleship Group
- Sharing the Gospel
- Seek to be of help when you are at other people’s homes or at events
- Do all that you do for the Lord and His glory
...and more!

We had a very special time sharing prayer requests with each other and then committed to pray for each other during this month. What a blessing it is to be encouraged and supported in prayer by wonderful sister’s in Christ.

We would love for you to join us for the next Girls Gathering February 13^th from 10:00-12:30 at Vision of Glory Church as we hear Amy speak on "Witnessing and Gaining a Passion for Souls" and as we encourage each other on in Jesus.