"Precious Women of God--This Includes You!" and Our Big Easter Give Away!

Dear Friends,

Well, it is the third Friday of April!  I hope you know what that means.  It means it is time for Michele to share this month's version of "Precious Women of God--This Includes You!"  You are in for a treat!  Michele wrote about Deborah of the Old Testament.

Our Big Easter Give Away!

I hope that everyone has wonderful plans for this weekend.  Easter is coming up sooner than you may think. We have family coming down from out of state to visit this weekend. We will be visiting one of our beautiful state parks, just a 1/2 mile down the road. If only it were cold, we would be able to show them hundreds of manatees that gather in the springs for the warm water.  Instead, they will only see our trees and flowers, and wow, do we have flowers in bloom!

By the way, Passover begins on Monday night! Have you ever been to a Christian celebration of the Seder?  It is amazing!  They show how each of the symbols of this meal, also are symbols for Jesus and His Resurrection! They traditionally symbolize the Exodus of Moses and all of the slaves out of Egypt.  It was always one of my favorite holidays!  (I have a few Passover cards to make...TODAY!)  And, then on that Thursday, April 21st we will announce the winner of our Big Easter Give Away!  (All you need to do to be entered is to leave your real or user name in the comment section!)  If you would like to leave your email, I will attempt to contact you, if you are the winner.  Otherwise, be sure to stop by and see if you won!  Please remember, anyone can see what you put in the comment section.  If your name is randomly chosen, and you have an address here in the continental United States...YOU WILL WIN ALL OF THE GOODIES!  (I apologize, I can not afford to send it out of the country...no matter how much we love having you visit!)  I hope you took a good look at the goodies...there is a list of all of the items on the side bar!  Check it out!

Also, if you leave a comment by Tuesday 8pm, and check back with us on Wednesday, you will find out if you were randomly chosen to receive the "Card of the Week!"  (You can see it on the side-bar.)  This is a weekly give away...and we are happy to send the card, an extra envelope and a postage stamp to anyone with an address here in the continental U.S.A.  This is a separate give-away from the Big Easter Give Away.

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Back to "Precious Women of God--This Includes You!"  Here are Michele's thoughts to share with you today:

 Deborah

 Deborah was a prophetess and Judge in Israel – pretty much the top governmental office then, and the only woman ever to hold the position. Her story is told in the 4th and 5th chapters of Judges following a familiar pattern. First the people would do evil and fall away from serving the Lord, then God would judge them and deliver them into the hands of their enemies, then they would cry out and return to God and finally he would deliver them. Unfortunately, the lesson was never permanently learned and the whole cycle kept repeating.

 Cycle of Judgment
Within this cycle, Deborah ruled while Israel was under God’s judgment. An army commander named Sisera under a king name Jabin had “oppressed the sons of Israel severely for twenty years.” (Judges 4:3) Here’s how she ruled. “She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (Judges 4:5)

 I always think it is interesting to see how those who don’t believe women can hold positions of governmental leadership within the church get around this passage of scripture. Deborah did it. God clearly appointed her and Israel clearly accepted her authority. The sons of Israel lined up (under her own tree no less) to have their case judged by her; her spiritual weight was evidently heavy.


The level of her spiritual authority is particularly demonstrated after she summons a warrior leader named Barak. She tells him to fight their enemy Sisera because the Lord revealed to her, “’I will give him into your hand.’” Listen to how Barak responds: “’If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.’” (Verse 8) He was not willing to go into battle without her.


Nonetheless, Deborah was willing to go to war while letting Barak know that his decision would mean he would forfeit any credit. “’I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.’” (Judges 4:9)


Character Revealed in Actions
So, that’s the story of what Deborah did, but what does that tell us about her character? Her actions reveal her character. The first thing I see is confidence, so sure of God’s call that compromise stood no chance of hampering it. Deborah was plain spoken and direct, honest, decisive and courageous. No waffling. No shirking from hard choices. She probably saw life pretty black and white—no gray areas to vacillate over.
 Is there a character lesson from Deborah for those of us—both men and women--in leadership roles today? Yes. But don’t mistakenly admire Deborah for the wrong thing and automatically assume you can’t follow in her footsteps especially if you have a “softer” type personality. The point is not her “assertiveness” but her uncompromising integrity to be about God’s business.


Deborah had a great fruitful harvest. She didn’t neglect or compromise her call from God, as unusual as it was in her time. Deborah was a woman of influence and her spiritual mantle created an atmosphere of courage for both men and women. God favored her and that is seen most clearly in the Bible’s last line about her ministry. Remember that when she Judged Israel it had been under severe oppression for twenty years. The end result was a double portion of victory. “And the land was undisturbed for forty years.” (Judges 5:31)

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Michele, you do such a wonderful with these monthly re-introductions to these women of the Bible!  I grew up learning about the Old Testament only, and I do not recall ever learning about the women...except for Eve, Abrahams wife, and Queen Esther.  You make it so interesting to look at their lives and try to see the similarity and differences between these amazing women and myself, and my friends and family.  Thank you for serving the Lord in this way, and for reaching so many of our guests!  You are wonderful!

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Prayer Team Members Wanted

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

John 14:13-14

If you like to pray for others...we would love for you to consider to join our Prayer Team! Joan, our Prayer Team Leader will simply ask how many minutes you can set aside to pray...and she will give you a list to fit your needs!  Prayer Works!  He hears and answers our prayers.  And, since we are a community here, it is important part of our lives. You can, of course, try it out, and if you find you can't fit it in your schedule, you can stop.  No pressure.  Of course, we will be praying for you, also.  All that we ask is that you are a Christian, and that you have at least 10 minutes a day to pray for our guests needs, or their loved one's needs, or your fellow team's needs here at the

He IS Able blog.  Please email Traci, if you have an interest, or would like more information.  It is a wonderful way to serve your community, and serve your Lord at the same time!

"And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  1 John 3:22

Have a wonderful weekend!  Spend some time with the Lord, and please sign up for our Big Easter Give Away, and our "Card of the Week" give away!  It would be fabulous if you would consider joining our prayer team while you are in prayer time this weekend.  It would be appreciated!  And, we do appreciate each of you for stopping by or getting involved in one of the many ways possible!

Here is a brief view of next week here at the He IS Able blog:
Monday     -Post (How to Host an Easter Extravaganza)
                    -Passover Seder begins at Sundown
Tuesday     -Comments for the "Card of the Week" must be in 
                      by 8pm!               
Wednesday-"Card of the Week" winner announced!
                     -Post (Don't Be Weary!)
Thursday    -Winner of Our Big Easter Give Away Announced!
Friday         -Good Friday
                     -Post about Easter 
Sunday        -Happy Easter! He Has Risen!!!


We hope you will be with us for a very exciting week!  Michele has been hard at work for a wonderful Easter post.  I know it will be just wonderful. Joan faithfully lifts all of you up in prayer, if you have a specific request, please either post it in the comment section, or if confidential, email it to Traci...I will send it to Joan, only.  God Bless!

He IS Able,
Traci Starkweather