It was so great to see you for coffee and danishes this morning at church. You have beautiful families! Meeting some of your loved ones was such fun.

Have you broken the seals on your Cracker Jacks yet? Thank you Jan and Sherry for the sweet Cracker Jacks and the devotional attached. How true it is that once you eat one bite of a cracker jack you can't stop---you just want some more don't ya? The same goes for Christ's followers and God's word. Once you get a taste of life with Christ IN you, you can't seem to get enough. What about reading God's word? Once you start it becomes a habit--like eating breakfast or drinking hot tea. Don't you just love it when you have time to sit, soak and then squeeze out what He gives you? You all are doing just that.

I totally piggyback Kristen's comment regarding each one of you. You are so filled with the spirit! We are seeing fruit from your prayers offered up at my house during our pajama dinner. He listens and He pours out His blessing. My favorite part of the morning was seeing your face, meeting your children and husbands, hearing the joy in your voices as you spoke about your groups and praying with some of you. Thank you!!! You blessed me. For those of you who could not make it--we missed you tremendously.

As I talked with many of you on the phone last week there was one resounding theme. PRAYER, and the fact that a lot of the ladies are not comfortable with praying out loud. This week I would really like for you to try a one sentence prayer with them. Write the sentence on a white board or a large piece of paper and give them 30 seconds to silently pray that prayer.

For example write: Father, this morning I praise you for ______________.

They silently can fill in the blank with one word! No pressure. We want to slowly move them in the direction of communing with God and loving it. Preface this activity by sharing with them what prayer has meant in your life. We have all felt uncomfortable at one time or another--let them know that is okay. Remind them that God knows their hearts and it is not a speech competition or a time to see who can pray using the biggest and best words. Prayer is expressing love to the one who created us and asking Him to be involved in our daily life. Next week we will give you another prayer idea and see how it goes. This is good stuff!!!!!

If you are finding it difficult to stay on the topic at hand help each other. If you are leading discussion have your co-leader take responsibility for bringing the conversation back on target. You are so gracious--that would not even be noticed.

Praying for prayer warriors and encouragers this week. Many of you already have ladies who have signed up for those positions---fantastic. We will pray for the spirits tapping on shoulders this week. If you feel one of the ladies in your group would be a great encourager, maybe tell her what you have seen in her over the last 3 weeks of study. Many times that is all we need--someone else who sees our gifts and reminds us of them.

This blog is only for you (discussion leaders), apprentices, and the team. It is a powerful tool for us to communicate with each other. Please do not give the site to others.

Try fasting Monday for lunch---give that time to prayer for your group time this week.

Love to each of you~

Marcie