BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hey Sweet Friends!

Today I have a wonderful announcement. The new and improved "A Widow's Might" has launched!

The site is the same with a few new additions. Please visit www.AWidowsMight.org to see the changes and for some exciting news.

All new posts will appear on the new site so please make a note of this if you have saved this site as one of your favorites. Also, you may need to subscribe to the new site in order to receive an email each time the site is updated. You will see a feedburner box in the right column of the new site. Just submit your email address to subscribe. If it tells you that you are already subscribed, then your subscription transferred to the new site and you are good to go. I'm not sure if I understand why some will automatically transfer and some won't. My techie gal says that it has something to do with the way you subscribed. I guess I'm not techie enough to understand :(

OK - this will be my last post through blogger. We have moved to a new location (HAH) so you will continue to hear from me from my swankier address (HAH again).

Don't forget to check out our new location for an awesome announcement. Here's a little hint... we're giving something HUGE away!

Sweet Blessings!
LeAnn

Counting My Blessings

Today marks 13 years since Ron "changed his address" and went to be with Jesus. This is typically a rough day for me - but not today. I woke up this morning and decided that I had a choice. I could face my day with a joyful heart or a heart of sadness. I chose joy in honor of Ron and my dear friend Anne. God freed Anne from Cancer and took her home to live with Him almost two years ago now. Even in the midst of her most painful days, Anne chose Joy. Her life continues to inspire me.

So, with a joyful heart, today I am counting my blessings...

• I have an amazing 16-year-old son who is becoming an intelligent, funny, interesting, talented, Godly young man
• I have a very supportive and loving mommy
• I have an extended family of friends who love me unconditionally
• I have wonderful in-laws who decided to keep us :)
  
• I have a calling... not a job!
• I have a roof over my head (thanks, Mom), a car that runs, food on our table, good health, and Nick is getting an exceptional education
• I have YOU!
• I have purpose. God has not wasted my pain. And, as He uses me to minister to those who are now walking the path that I am on, He is healing my heart as well.
  
• I have memories to hold onto that will never go away
• Most importantly, I have hope in Jesus. Because of Him, we will be with those we love for all eternity

Sweet friends, I pray that you can find something to be thankful for today.

Joyfully, Hopefully,
LeAnn

Change Can Be a Very Good Thing!

As usual, life has been crazy.

As usual, I am grateful for it.

The crazier things are, the less time I have for my mind to wander down a path that I would rather not walk down. Looking outward to others instead of inward has helped me through the darkest of days. There is always someone who is hurting more than I am. And, in helping, God is healing. "A Widow's Might" was born out of my desire to pour myself into others. God never wastes our pain and if He could use my pain to help even one other woman, it was worth admitting the stuff that I had been keeping inside.

When I first launched "A Widow's Might," the idea was to have more of a community blog where a group of women in this season of life could share our feelings. However, the women God put on my heart to do this with weren't quite in the same place as I was at the same time. For a variety of reasons, life just kept them busy in other ways. "A Widow's Might" became a "solo" venture which is not what I intended.

The truth is... I do not feel like a widow 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I don't always have something profound to share with you on "A Widow's Might." (Actually, it's pretty rare that anything profound comes out of my mouth - hahahaha!) I don't always have something that I need to scream about. I don't always have a life-lesson to share. But isn't this GOOD news?

Seriously?! Some days I'm just downright happy all day and I don't cry myself to sleep. If this journey is new to you, I pray that you find hope in this statement.

The thing is... we all grieve differently and on different time tables. I still cry on every significant anniversary (birthdays, holidays, our "firsts," our "lasts," the anniversary of Ron's death, etc) because Ron isn't here. I still cry when Nick receives an award at school and I hide tears at Nick's tennis games because Ron isn't sitting beside me watching our son. I still cry myself to sleep from sheer loneliness a few times every month (especially when I'm hormonal!) I still cry when I see an older couple holding hands, knowing that I will never have that. I still cry because it is very likely that I won't have a happily ever after.

But... I also laugh. I laugh a lot. I am happy a lot. God has put wonderful people in my life... people who fill some of my empty spaces and bring me great joy. In just a few weeks it will be the 13th anniversary of Ron's change of address. Thirteen years ago he went to live with Jesus. The fact that he is with Jesus is a source of happiness for me, too. That doesn't mean that I won't cry a lot on April 19th and it certainly does not mean that I won't cry myself to sleep that night. But, on the 20th, I will wake up to a new day and a fresh start. God's mercies are new EVERY day.

OK - so what's my point?

Well.. remember those gals that God put on my heart to share "A Widow's Might" with? Their lives are now at a place where God is calling them to share too! Beginning very soon, we will be turning this into a community blog with 4-5 of us sharing our experiences, our lives, our hurts, our triumphs, and our hearts with you. I am so excited!

Each of us has a different story to tell and different life experiences that have helped to define who we are. You may connect with some and not with others. By each of us sharing from our own hearts, you will hear different perspectives. By joining together we hope to encourage you in ways that are more personal and helpful to you as an individual. And, with all of us contributing, you will hear from us much more often!

I don't have an exact start date but I will begin making a few changes to this site very soon. Then, in a few weeks, we will welcome you to a new and improved "A Widow's Might" and I will introduce you to a handful of amazing women who have walked the same road that you are on. Each of them inspires me and I know they will be a blessing to you as well.

Much Love,
LeAnn

She Speaks Scholarship!

Hi Friends,

If you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I spent a few years in the pit, depressed over loosing my husband... my best friend. But, slowly, God brought me out of the pit and filled my broken heart with His amazing love. He has further blessed me by using my pain to minister to others.

Are you in that place? Has God brought you through to the other side and given you a heart to minister to other women? Is He calling you to share your story through speaking and/or writing? Our annual She Speaks conference can equip you and encourage you in God's call on your life.

If you feel God calling you to our annual She Speaks conference but don't have the funding this year, hop over to Lysa's blog for an opportunity to win a full scholarship!

Click here for details:
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2010/03/she-speaks-scholarship-contest.html

She Speaks is a life-changing weekend for everyone. It would be great to see some of my "Widow's Might" sisters there!

Blessings,
LeAnn

When God Serenades You

Sweet Sisters,

Valentine's Day is this weekend and it can be one of the dreaded holidays. You know that Lifetime and Hallmark will probably be airing a stream of romantic movies... the totally unrealistic ones!

My friend, Micca, has lived through the loss of her husband at a very young age so she understands. Micca wrote today's Proverbs 31 Ministries devotion and... since it serenaded my heart this morning, I want to share it with you.

Be Blessed My Friends,
LeAnn

When God Serenades You
By: Micca Monda Campbell

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17(NIV)

Growing up I had to watch whatever my sister wanted to watch on television because she was the oldest. She liked the black and white classics that featured Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Frank Sinatra to name a few. Over time, I began to enjoy them too.

I really liked the part of the movie when Dean Martin would serenade the woman he loved at her bedroom window. I thought that was so romantic! In fact, I would get a funny feeling in my stomach. Somehow, I knew deep inside that I, too, would be serenaded by some lovesick man. I didn’t know when, but I was certain it was going to happen.

Well, guess what?

It never happened.

At first, I was bummed. Then, one day shortly after I had experienced tragedy in my life, and was feeling completely unloved, I came across our key verse.

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Right away, I knew God had led me to this truth. How else does a person stumble into the book of Zephaniah if not led there by God? At the time, I didn’t know the book of Zephaniah existed. But it did exist, and the words on the page read like a personal note written just for me. Micca, I will rejoice over you with singing!

That’s when it dawned on me. God delights in me so much that it causes Him to break out in song! Suddenly, it no longer mattered that no one else has ever serenaded me. God, Himself, serenades me. He sings to me. He sings over me and He sings about me! It’s His joy to do so. Better yet, He delights in serenading you, too.

I pray that you will allow this verse to sink deep into your heart today so you’ll have it when you need it. Trust me. There will be a day when you will need it. You see, we tend to believe that because we are children of God that nothing bad will ever happen to us. When the bad does happen, we believe the lie every time.

I knew it, God! I knew You really didn’t love me.

Friend, that is a lie from the pit of hell. Nothing is further from the truth. God, indeed, loves you because He can’t do anything less. You and I cause God’s supernatural heart to skip a beat at the mere thought of us. Therefore, the next time you’re feeling unloved because of some adversity in your life stop and say, “NO! That’s a lie. God loves me so much that He can’t help but sing about it!”

Dear Lord, I need Your loving touch today. Let Your love song wash over me and fill my heart. I release my feelings of doubt to You and rest in Your undying love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

An Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than All Your Fears by Micca Campbell

Micca Campbell's Testimony DVD by Micca Campbell

Visit Micca’s blog for more encouragement today.

The Wonder of His Love: A Journey into the Heart of God by Nancy Stafford

Application Steps:

Look up each verse and memorize them. When you need to experience God’s love, close your eyes and repeat them to your heart: Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:16; John 15:16; Isaiah 54:10.

Reflections:

What causes you to doubt God’s love?

Is there better proof of God’s love than giving His own life for you? Have you experienced the power of God’s Love through Christ? Accept His invitation today to know Him?

Power Verses:

1 Corinthians 13:8, “Love never fails.” (NIV)

Isaiah 54:10, “My love and kindness will not depart from you.” (NIV)

© 2010 by Micca Campbell. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
616-G Matthews-Mint Hill Road
Matthews, NC 28105
www.proverbs31.org

Empty Spaces

Sweet Friends,

No matter what is going on in my life or how miserable I may feel from time to time, there is one thing that I NEVER doubt and that's God's love. Yes, the losses some of us have experienced have left us with a lot of empty spaces in our lives. (I have received emails from many of you, letting me know that you are not widows like me, but that you have never married or are divorced. You, my sweet friends, have empty spaces too.)

But... God is so good that He fills those empty spaces in other ways. He loves us so much that He brings people and projects into our lives to fill in those gaps. We matter to Him.

I just wrote about my amazing birthday celebration on my other blog, www.LeAnnRice.com. The holidays are always rough waters to navigate but God put so many amazing friends into my life that they helped to fill some of my empty spaces. Then, they went absolutely over the top in celebrating my birthday that falls just two weeks after the holidays (when I am still usually in a funk). I don't know when I have ever felt so much love. This certainly doesn't mean that I'm not still lonely when I lay my head on my pillow at night. But... I do try to take a moment to praise Him and to tell Him how very grateful I am for placing others in my life who love me unconditionally. God loves me every day through my precious friends. Through them, and through various projects that He calls me to, He fills some of my empty spaces.

Recently I have been a little better about stopping to thank God for filling these empty spaces. It has helped me focus on what I do have and not on what I don't. The more time I spend counting my blessings, the less time I have left to think about what I have lost. (It's really just simple math!)

My prayer for you today... May God fill your empty places with great friends, His purpose, and sweet memories.

In His Love,
LeAnn

New Year - New Hope

Each year I choose and claim a new verse for the year. I print out the verse (with my name inserted) and put it over my desk, in my bathroom, tuck it in my Bible, etc. I immerse myself in this verse.

I trust God to give me a verse each year so on New Year's Eve I open my Bible and ask God to direct me. Here is the promise He has for me this year:

"I am with you always, LeAnn, even to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:20)

El Roi, the God who sees me, knows that I struggle with loneliness. He knows that I struggle with self-worth. He knows that I struggle with feeling overlooked and insignificant.

He knows.

When I opened by Bible on the loneliest night of the year (for me), God reminded me that I am never alone. He is with me ALWAYS. And, because He equips me to do His work, I have self-worth through Him. If those He places within my sphere of influence see Him through my words and my actions, then I certainly am significant.

He is with me ALWAYS.

Before my feet hit the ground each morning I will remind myself that God's Word is alive and personal. I will repeat His promise to me that He is with me always. I will go through each new day knowing that I do not walk alone and I do nothing without His help and His guidance.

He is my hope for each new day and this new year. And, my sweet friends... He is yours!

Blessings,
LeAnn