A Personal Word From Lisa….
Today’s Christian woman faces unique challenges. Even as our hearts yearn to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our lives are bombarded by a culture that runs counter to His ways. Somehow in the midst of all the divergent messages, we are left to grow our families and live out our personal lives in a way that will bring honor to His Name. And, quite frankly, it is hard!
Over a decade ago while I was in the midst of my ordinary daily life, I sensed the Lord break into my world with a penetrating and personal call.
Lisa, your job is to teach my people how to stand firm in difficult times.
Anytime we think we hear some sort of personal direction from God, it is always important to put that direction to the test. And so for the last decade, I have watched the Lord do exactly what I thought He directed! The only thing I didn’t anticipate is that in order to teach anyone anything, sometimes you have to walk through the lessons first.
“Difficult times” can certainly be defined by different women in different ways. But for my practical explanation, here is how I would understand the phrase.
A difficult time is when….
our mind, will and emotions are under intense pressure to bend.
we cannot see an easy solution to the challenges we face.
we are tempted to grab hold of a compromised goal to lessen our struggle.
others around us have trouble understanding what is really going on.
the world feels confusing and out of control.
our faith-stand produces persecution.
we are trying to figure out where God is in the midst of our strain.
and our previously held beliefs of how to solve problems now seem incredibly naive.
Perhaps you would add other ideas to my list but I think you get the idea. Today’s messy, dark 21st century world would surely fit our list as “difficult.” Just sorting through the daily events of dark deceptions around us feels like it could be a full-time job! And that is before you add in the expected pressures of husbands, children, careers, health, homes, and finances.
That brings us to the “about us” purpose of this PREPARE: WOMEN ministry.
Our heart is to help equip women to STAND FIRM in the Lord.
Our heart is to provide a forum where honest, raw emotions are okay…but where FAITH IN GOD and maturity are the final goal.
Our heart is to RECAPTURE JOY for women who for whatever reason are bogged down with burdens and weights.
Our heart is to REVEAL TRUTH about tough issues that others tend to shy away from out of fear.
Our heart is to PREPARE THE HANDMAIDENS of the Lord who have lamps filled with oil and are ready for the Lord’s return.
Our heart is to BRING STRENGTH to local church ministries who for generations have faithfully discipled girls into women of God.
Do these goals sound like something you desire?
If so, we yearn to connect with you in whatever way will be a blessing to your life. As we are beginning this journey on this particular website in the spring of 2016, we have many dreams and ideas. Where this will all take us, I guess we will, over time, all find out.
But this much is settled and sure….God loves us and is for us and through HIM we can complete our race!
So fellow sisters in the Lord, consider this a personal invitation to join the PREPARE: WOMEN. Look around out site. Come with us and together we will GROW!
Lisa Cherry
Co-Founder of Frontline Family Ministries
PS….If you have never met before, here is a little more about me in the form of one of those formal “professional bios.” But if you really want to know me, you probably ought to read some of my books and resources I have written over the years where I have a tendency to spill out my personal details and transparent thoughts. Below are links to find me both online and in the printed word.
Connect With Lisa:
Like a Flood: Live Boldy. Love Truthfully. Stand Fearlessly. In a Post Christian America.