For today’s show I interviewed a young lady in ministry, Michelle Myers, who several years ago struggled with a big temptation and sin in her life. Her sin was unlike some that teens struggle with, but all the same it was the area where Satan attacked her life.

She shares her story of dealing with anorexia, bringing her close to death, but ultimately closer to Christ. She now shares her story as a way to share Christ with others. It is an awesome testimony all young girls need to hear.

I want to thank Michelle for being on the show and tell you that you must keep an eye out, as Michelle is writing a book that is a must have. She’ll be back on the show once it is available and we’ll be sure to help you know where to get your copy. Thanks Michelle! Visit Michelle on her blog here.

At the end of today’s show I made a big announcement about my latest project. God has lead me out of my comfort zone, to speak to parents. You all know I am passionate about tweens and teens and I love to stand in front of them and speak, sit with them and chat, or just hang out with them, but it isn’t as natural for me to speak to their parents. However, God is leading me to do so and I am being obedient.

The result is the workshop I will be doing LIVE in my hometown, Pro-Tech the Kids Workshop, on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009 at 7 pm at North Winona Baptist Church in Winona, Mississippi. Find out more info on the website. This event will be available online via video recording after the event.

This post was originally published by Sisterlisa Growing in Grace Magazine on June 1, 2009.  Sisterlisa is one of the speakers for our upcoming Back to the Basics of Life Seminar Series.  Please sign up for the series here. Enjoy SisterLisa’s article below:

Over the years we have seen friendships come and go and most of those times it has been painful. I have seen friends move on in ministry and move away to fulfill God’s plan for their lives and although I was happy for them, my heart grieved over the thought of not fellowshipping with them as often anymore. I have had times when I volunteered in church nursery with other women that I grew quite close to. Then a ministry change happens and that intimate fellowship gets interrupted. I have learned through the years that what we do for the Lord may not always be what He wants for us for a lifetime, but rather for a season.

Something that my family has come to understand in a deeper more intense way is that The Body is not a one denomination inclusive group. In the Rescue Ministry we serve the Lord in, we have had great opportunities to meet fantastic Believers in a variety of church fellowships.

My husband has surrendered to the Lord to travel with this ministry to help introduce the kind of help we offer at The Well Ministry of Rescue and The Sarah Home for Women. This journey for us has been an amazing one, to say the least. We are still just at the beginning of this journey, but watching the Lord open doors that were firmly shut for ten years, suddenly become wide open and has been triumphant!

Although this journey for us is exciting, I was made aware of the feelings that others feel about our decision. The Holy Spirit reminded me of what it was like for me when friends moved on in the past. A dear sweet friend of mine came to me in tears over us going in this direction, because this journey involves us not being in the same fellowship as often as before. She told me how she is sad, but happy at the same time and it became evident to me how much she truly loves me. I had not known she had such a deep abiding love for our friendship.

Yet, not everyone has come to us with those same feelings. Most people don’t like change, especially a change that comes between the frequency of those sweet fellowship times. I have seen over the years that many people don’t quite know how to respond. Some show angry emotions, some critical and judgmental, and some don’t seem to show any response at all. Perhaps they just don’t know what to think or how to feel about it.

The fellowship that we won’t be frequenting as often, is one that involves hundreds of people and there is no way we can adequately keep in touch with each family individually. Yet there are networking opportunities to all of us on the internet that makes it a lot easier to keep in touch.

There are some people who are reluctant to logging into a social network like Facebook or Twitter, but are two that we enjoy and know how to use in a safe manner. Some people choose to build blogs or message board forums to get all the latest updates on friends and family. I feel these are good ways to keep in touch with The Body all over the world.

Our family has been so blessed in so many different ways by our Father since we responded to the Lord in the calling He has given to us. While this is an exciting time for us we do not want to lose touch with the Body of Believers we fellowshipped with for fourteen years and we want to keep in touch with the other Believers we are finding along the way. Social Networking on the internet is NO replacement for fellowship in person, but it sure helps keep the lines of communication open and keep each other up to date on prayer requests and praise reports!

We have come to understand more deeply that The Body is not limited to one building in one corner of town, but rather all over the globe. I feel that many times we get tunnel vision, in our busy lives, and forget the rest of The Body that is living all around us. Denominations sure have come to build up brick walls all around us and have kept us apart for so long. I came to discover that there are no denominations in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13, ” 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? “(KJV)

I think I knew that already, but it became very evident to me recently.

1 Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (Geneva Bible 1599)

We may not like the same meals, but one day we will feast together with the Father around His table and the choices between enchiladas and cheeseburgers won’t even matter. Let’s not forget the rest of The Body. We are everywhere! Don’t forget The Body, we all matter in God’s eyes.

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; 9 but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”(Geneva Bible 1599)

Sisterlisa is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Growing in Grace Magazine and owner of AGMinistries, a devotion blog for women. She is married and homeschools her four children while remaining active in serving the Lord in her community.

School is starting or maybe it’s already begun where you are.  Either way, there is much to do to prepare for school beginning, whether you homeschool, attend public or private schools, there are supplies to buy, clothes shopping to be done and new routines to get into.  It can be a trying time of year for families.  The hustle and bustle ensues and let’s face it we can all get a little “fussy” to say the least.

However, as Christians it is important that our busyness does not alter our attitudes so much that those around us do not even know that we are Christians.  We are called to be “set apart” from the world.  This should include our attitudes with not only our families, but with others.  Sure this is a crazy busy time of year for everyone, but if you face each busy day with a positive, Christ-like attitude others will take note and wonder what is different about you, and what makes your outlook on life so much different from others, or maybe even their own.

As 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Others will be recognizing this set-apartness that you have, however they may not know what it is that makes you different, that is where you are responsible as a Christian to be prepared to explain to them or to “give an account” to them for that hope that you have that is being shown in your attitude and hopefully in your actions as well.  So, just like you are preparing for the new school year by buying supplies, getting new clothes and incorporating new routines into you life, you should also be prepared with a testimony or account of why you have the hope that you have through Jesus Christ.

It is not always easy to open your mouth and tell others about your relationship with Christ, but the more you do so the easier it will become, so get prepared!