www.Just4Ladies.com
Autumn Series
October 2007
 
Dear Michele,
Happy Fall Y'all! once again the weather here in east Tennessee is cooling down and not a moment too soon if you ask me. I am SO ready for autumn to begin. Over the next week we'll start decorating the house with corn stalks and hay and punkin's, scarecrows and all that good stuff. I'm eagerly awaiting the first cool night I can light the fireplaces and walk outside and smell that autumn smell of burning wood. I wonder if there will be autumn when we get to heaven? I imagine that as beautiful as this season is, there will be!
 
Just4Ladies welcomed SIXTEEN new members to the family of Christ this week and over 100 to the Just4Ladies family. All the praise and glory goes to God for using this little ole' web community for His purpose and a GREAT BIG WARM WELCOME to all of our new members!
 
Live prayer is entering its fourth week and the group is getting bigger each week, we got off to a late start this past Friday as some of our ladies had some pretty serious questions that needed to be answered. Pastor Tom was there to address the issues of concern and we had a really good prayer session.
 
We'll probably start an early group for support or questions and answers so as not to hold up those that have to get to work or take care of kids.  We're also looking at making the prayer room text and audio which seems like it is going to be inevitable with the amount of people participating. I'll keep you posted on changes as they happen.
 
This past week the issue of "time" or "waiting" seems to be weighing heavily on your hearts. I thought about the best way to encourage you and decided to share with you what worked for me. What you are about to read was the turning point in my heartbreak journey and it was also the key to my mutual relationship with The Lord. May it bless you as it did me.
In This Issue
the KEY to Knowing God
J4L Bit's 'N Pieces
Heartbeats - LIVE TALK RADIO HOUR!
THE KEY TO KNOWING GOD by Shell Washam
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=5fxacfcab.0.0.nt6xrvn6.0&ts=S0286&p=http://www.michelewasham.com/&id=preview 

In the almost eight years that I have been in heartbreak ministry I have yet to meet one person who begins this journey and says "Take Your time Lord, I can wait!!" - It just doesn't happen. If anything, it is the complete opposite and the first question I am asked when I begin speaking to new members is "How long does this usually take?"

I have learned from experience, my own and that of those I coach, that when we have reached a certain point of contentment in our journey, when we are content with God and only God and when we feel peace knowing that if the one we began praying for never came back, we would be OK, that's when we're ready. In other words, when HIS grace is sufficient or when God is all you need.

As with all of you who are struggling with the issue of time, I did too and when I was literally at my lowest point, when I felt I couldn't go another day, The Lord led me across a poem that changed my life. The poem was written by the late Russell Kelfer. I was blessed to be able to correspond with his widow, Martha Williams Kelfer,  a couple of years ago who gave me permission to share the poem when coaching. I hope it blesses you as it did me.

Please, read the words and let them sink into your heart for it is in the "wait" that we get to know God the way our heart longs to know Him; but what's even better, it is during the wait that our hearts finally open up enough to let Him in completely and never let Him go!

Wait

 

by Russell Kelfer
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...
and the Master so gently said,"Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate
hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
as my Master replied again, "Wait."
 

 

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine... and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.  You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair; you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. You'd not know the joy of resting in Me when darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love
when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. The glow of My comfort late into the night, the faith that I give when you walk without sight.
 

 

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee. Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

 

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

 

Until we meet again...Simply Believe

J4L Bit's 'N Pieces 
 
J4L CONCESSION FUNDRAISER - On Saturday September 29, 2007 we set up a food booth at the WEBC Annual Craft Festival. We sold Pizza, Calzones, Fried Apple Pies and other goodies and we raised over $300 for the Just4Ladies ministry!
The fundraiser was a great success and we'd like to thank all of our local members who came out and supported us!
 
 
J4L OFFERS PASTORAL SUPPORT - Are you a new Christian or just in need of pastoral help? We know how tough it is to travel this spiritual journey especially if you're a working mom, student raising kids, etc. - We are blessed to have a full time pastor on staff for our members to speak too.
 
Pastor Tom Mooty is the senior pastor for the West End Baptist Church in Newport, TN but offers non-denominational support to all just4Ladies members. If you need help finding a church or are struggling with an issue that seems too much to bear on your own, please e-mail Pastor Tom and let him help you. His gentle way, God given wisdom, and over 35-years in ministry are sure to be a blessing to you.
 
 
No issue is too small or not important enough... please, don't try to do this alone. We're here to help you.
 
NEW PRAYER REQUEST GROUP - Over the past year we've run into many difficulties with our prayer request system. We've experienced a high number of spam and hackers on our prayer boards which have made it difficult to monitor. We're PLEASED to announce that we've solved the problem and we now have a J4L prayer Group on the Yahoo system.
 
You'll need to register once and then you can post or respond as often as you'd like. You can also choose to receive individual prayer requests or daily digests.
 
Please follow the link below and sign up today! PRAYER IS OUR MOST POWERFUL WEAPON AND TOOL IN THIS WAR FOR OUR MARRIAGES!
 
HEARTBEATS - LIVE HEARTBREAK RADIO
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=5fxacfcab.0.0.nt6xrvn6.0&ts=S0286&p=http://www.just4ladies.com/&id=preview 
On Tuesday evening at 8:00 PM EST we'll launch our first LIVE TALK RADIO SHOW!!
 
We're super excited about this new feature and hope you'll join us and even call in and talk to us!
 
The show will be hosted by J4L Creator Shell Washam and WEBC Senior Pastor, Tom Mooty. It's sure to be an enlightning hour! Please make plans to join us and visit our Live Talk Radio Page for show details, RSS Feed details and Podcast information.
 
Talk to you on Tuesday!!
 
Show Time: 8:00 EST
 
 
Call In Number: 646-595-3679
 
or message your question using AIM: BabyBlu809
 
 
UPCOMING SHOWS & GUESTS INCLUDE:
 
Jan Coates - Author of  Set Free Today
 
Loretta Ball - Co Host of Tennessee Police Wives
Dealing with Law Enforcement Marriages
 
MORE GREAT GUEST SPEAKERS!
 
 
Stay tuned for future show details!
 
Featured Article
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=5fxacfcab.0.0.nt6xrvn6.0&ts=S0286&p=http://www.heartbreakuniversity.org/&id=preview
The autumn session of A Course In Heartbreak - 7Steps to a Miracle of Restored Self and Love is now accpeting enrollments on a limited basis. Please enroll now if you'd like to be included in this session. Just4Ladies members pay just $39.99 for the eBook and $49.99 for hardcopy.
 
Quick Links
 
J4L Featured Author
ROCCO MORELLI
From Mafia To Ministry
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=5fxacfcab.0.0.nt6xrvn6.0&ts=S0286&p=http://www.roccomorelli.org/&id=preview
 
At the age of 15, Rocco Morelli was already on his way up the ladder of life in the big time.  A hometown Mafia "prince" with family roots that sink deep into organized crime, Morelli is cursed to repeat the sins of his fathers until his life-changing encounter with the only man who can stand up to him:  Jesus Christ.  Join in Morelli's exciting transformation from playboy gangster to mob politician to God's man, finding identity and protection in the #1 family in the universe. Click here to read more of Rocco's story or:
$15.00 (includes s/h)
 
Visit Roccos web site at:
 
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1011114309229&id=preview