Remember

Remembering… lots of that this week, it’s been ten years since the Twin Towers fell, the Pentagon was attacked and a plane full of people lost their lives in Pennsylvania due to terrorism. The media is obsessed with covering every angle and facet of what happened, what changed, where you were when it happened and a hundred ways to analysis each one.

For me, ten years ago was a turning point in my life. I was at the proverbial fork in the road. Everything I knew to be safe, comfortable and normal was behind me, but God was calling me forward. Trouble was there was a drop off in front of me, from where I stood anyway. I knew I couldn’t “walk on air”, but I also knew that’s precisely where God was sending me. The only thing that seemed important in that moment was my answer to Him. It was “yes” or “no”, no qualifiers, no provisions, no explanations just raw obedience. No props to me for answering “yes”, I was too scared to say “no”. That was the only thing I was sure of… saying No to God is not wise, I had tried that a couple of times previously—the results were never good.

So I stepped off the cliff and you guessed it, God was there and He literally carried me through things that stretched every single part of me, cut some things off that I once thought were rather good and grafted other things in that I had no idea I’d need later. In His sweet Fatherness He gave me far more than I ever expected so far beyond my wildest dreams!

So now, ten years later looking back… I’m a different person, not because of 9-11 even though the time frame was the same, but because I said yes to God and went where He called me. I have thanked God a million times for calling me out of comfortable, for carrying me even for the cutting and grafting processes. There may be rewards in heaven in all of this, but I can’t even imagine them better than the ones I’ve received here. Most of my friends, peers in ministry, effects on my family even my overall relationship with Jesus is so much more meaningful. I would have never thought any of these things would have been altered by saying “yes” to God, but they all were. This one decision impacted my life in a huge way. I am forever changed and eternally grateful.

If you find yourself at that point of decision and God is telling you to jump. (You won’t wonder if He is, He’s pretty clear in those moments.) I eagerly encourage to follow Him. Turn off your reason and logic just long enough to say yes to Him. Then get ready for the ride of your life! Anyone who says Christianity is boring has never lived in radical obedience. In ten years maybe we’ll get to read your story…

Beautiful disarray...

We are a complex mix of order and chaos; a unique and beautiful combination of simplicity and mystery. Try as hard as we do to fit in we were made to stand out; to play a specific part. Sometimes, it's hard to find the path from mess to beauty.

I'm a design consultant. I love to mix colors; bringing in texture and patterns adds interest and depth. I believe (and give glory to the Creator) to do this artistically is a gift. Sometimes when I'm just getting started with a client there are so many options it can seem an overwhelming mess. Still, there's beauty in the disarray that's just not apparent yet... Options are good as long as you have a goal in mind; a point of reference. In decorating we look for an inspiration piece. Something you absolutely love! It can be anything; piece of furniture, a picture or a random item something that guides you to a particular style and color pallet.

Understanding where you are in life is like finding your inspiration piece your point of reference that gives you direction, but in order to move forward from there a good grasp of what you have to work with is important. Like looking at all the options, assessment tools created by social scientists can prove very helpful to identify what our tendencies are, how our temperaments come into play and when to let our preferences lead or re-direct them with self-discipline. Without that sense of guidance we wander aimlessly wasting time and energy. It is in our best interest to discover the gifts, talents and abilities God has invested into us. It will give us insight into both what we are good at and how to use those things to benefit others.

The first time you look at the pile of "options" it can look like a mess! Each individual piece may not look like it works, but when everything is sorted and set in place the finished project is harmonious and unique.

If I Knew

From Lisa's Journey of Purpose- Wings Team Member

If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself to wait
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am beautiful
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself I am worth it
If I would have known what I know now
I would have told myself that time heals all wounds
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and been still
If I would have listened
I would have stopped and prayed
If I would have taken the time to see You
I would have stopped and praised You
If I would have realized Your heart
I would have looked to the Heavens for answers
If I would have known what I know now
I would have known You were the only way
If I would have opened my eyes
I would have known You were always there
If I would have looked to my side
I would have known that You never leave
If I would have opened my heart
I would have known that You love me
Knowing what I know now
I know I am beautiful, worth it, and healed
Knowing what I know now
I know You are always there
Knowing what I know now
I love You, Thank You, and Praise You

Amen.

Friendships (from 7/10/11 Wings Think-about-it segment)

So interesting to me that with the current trends of non-verbal communication; texting, Facebook, Twitter and e-mails coffee shops and other face to face venues are flourishing. Even through the fad is to communicate in these new ways there's something that still draws us together. How can we guard, build and experience the beauty of strong friendships.

Providing an atmosphere to network, develop and create new friendships is one of the primary purposes for Wings. We do not intend to orchestrate these friendships, but rather allow them to form organically. We encourage you to exchange cell numbers, plan a coffee date, meet for a walk or start a book study. Be bold and connect with someone new!

Oooh, that’s somewhat scary, huh? I’m sure every single one of us has been hurt by a friend at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, we have just as surely been the source of hurt to one of our friends, too. It works that way with friends… Any time we open up our heart in relationship there is the potential for pain. So, do we buy into the lie that it’s not worth it? Or the biggest lie of all, “If I don’t open myself to anyone again, I won’t get hurt.” REALLY? If we build walls like that we are just alone and hurting inside them. Those walls do not protect us, they are a prison!

Acquaintance—someone we’ve met or known about; that we may or may not recognize or remember in the future. We really know little about these people and they know little of us. These are surface relationships unless we choose to develop them further. They are not likely to inflect hurt because of the lack of heart connection.

Casual—people we’ve become more familiar with or met in one or more settings, sometimes through mutual friends. These friends have access to more information about us and us about them through life circumstances, familiarity and by our permission they could become close friends. We could be surprised by them, but the ability for them to really affect substantial pain towards us is minimal.

Close—friends. These people we have allowed into the soft part of our heart. This gives them the power to hurt and bless us by their friendship. We know them… and they know us. It’s both fulfilling and risky. Closeness happens in a moment at times—crazy when that occurs; others times this level of friendship develops over years. This doesn’t make them better or worse just happens differently.

Intimate—only a few friends arrive here. There are no words that describe an intimate friendship. Someone whom you trust to know your worst flaws and they choose to remain committed because their love is pure. Sometimes married couples get here, but sadly not all. When the silence doesn't have to be filled and the "look" doesn't have to be explained... when your name is safe on their lips. Usually some painful moments bring both of you to this point, but the pain worked through has left a stronger foundation.

Some friendships are seasonal parts of our lives, some blossom beautifully is an instant, sadly, some that have been built over years are destroyed just as fast. Some friends will precede through the stages, but some aren't ever meant to. Excepting and understanding the differences in friendships keeps us from unhealthy expectations and unnecessary pain.

We were created to be in relationships. It's the way we are wired. We need human connection to be healthy and balanced emotionally. Spiritually speaking too, we were created to be in close relationship with God. He created the perfect environment set us in the middle with only one restriction and when we blew that He gave again--His own Son to restore the loss of relationship our sin caused! Pretty intense commitment to us.

There are levels of relationship with God as well as people. We choose how close we want to be to God. The door on His end is always open. Though His invitation to relationship is there He will not force His way into our lives that's our call...

Commitment

Is there anything that a girl looks forward to more than her wedding? The past few I've attended have been so full of meaning and such a reflection of the couples. The cookie-cutter ceremony and receptions replaced by creative expressions of the man and woman who have fallen in love and are now standing ready to commit themselves to each other.

Our theme word for this (June) month is commitment. Ooh, we have some fun surprises for you all... here's a few clues. Flowers, flowers and more flowers. Unique arrangement instruction with hands on fun to try! Stories from a wedding planner, time to develop new friendships, a moment to consider what commitment means to you and of course, wedding cake:)

Come ready to have fun, learn new skills, discover more about yourself and be a part of something created just for you! Bring your friends--see you Thursday!

Like a Child

From Lisa (Wings Team Member)

Matthew 18:3 (NLT) Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."

I recently read Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (click here for info on the book). If you haven't read it, I seriously suggest that you do. It's about a little boy who goes to Heaven during an emergency surgery. The most endearing part of the book is as the boy, Colton recalls his memories of Heaven.

I was so humbled by reading this book. Here this boy so excitely believed everything and bodly told the story. Would I be so forthcomthing and so bold about a similar experience? Being a believer and having read the Bible, I wouldn't doubt, but would I be afraid of what others thought? Am I afraid of what others think of me about my personal testimony? Do I boldly proclaim my faith in a room of unbelievers?

What does faith like a child look like? Strip away the doubt. Take away all the fear of what others think and just live, live for God, live for the purpose He created you for. Go back to the days when Santa brought you presents and you couldn't sleep the night before Christmas in anticipation of tomorrow's presents and activities. That is faith like a child. It's no fear, no doubt and extreme excitement for Jesus! If anyone tried to tell you Santa wasn't real, would you have laughed at them and fought for your cause? Well stand up and fight for Jesus! There's not many times in life that someone will tell you to behave like a child.

Inspire

To inspire another is a powerful responsibility one that can be thoughtfully calculated or carelessly misdirected. We are not alone in this world. What we say and do affects those around us. Whether positive or negative our lives influence.

Places and things can inspire as well; a sunset may inspire an artist to photograph or paint it, a mountain may inspire a climber to the summit or a rainy day may be the inspiration to curl up with a good book.

What inspires you?

Let's focus on the positive side of the term. What calls out the best in you, causes you to reach farther than you thought you could or keeps you coming back for more? Is it a person, an ideal or something inside of you?

On, Thursday night (6:30-8:30) May 19th at the Sioux City Art Center we launch WINGS. The format has a layered feel that's fast moving and covers a lot of ground.  Inspire is the theme word that will be weaved through the night. We will take time to make new friends, learn about the Siouxland job outlook, have a lite bite to eat, do book/movie/music reviews, have photo opts. and be creative! Sound fun? RSVP @ WINGS on Facebook.

Dazzling, Inspiring, Radiant; that's what God sees when He looks at you! Before you were a glimmer in your mama's eye God dreamed about you, He planned out what you'd be like and gave you everything you would need to fulfill and complete that destiny. Your energy, abilities and dreams have purpose! You are young, beautiful and strong! You make a difference in this world! You are the young women of Siouxland!

Love

I have watched you suffer all of your life
And now that you’ll listen, I’ll tell you that I...”

I will love you for you
Not for what you have done or what you will become
I will love you for you
I will give you the love
The love that you never knew
from What Love Really Means by JJ Heller (song)

I love JJ Heller's song "What Love Really Means." The lyrics so beautifully capture people's anguish to feel love from something or someone and how God yearns to show us His love. His real love.

I especially love, "and now that you'll listen, I'll tell you..." Have you ever wondered where God is? Why did this happen? Were you listening? God loves you and He wants more than anything to show you His love.

Did you ever let this verse sink in to the depths of your heart and soul? Read, let it sink in for a minute.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Reflect on God's love for you this Easter. Think of the above verse. Think of the cross. The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's love for us. Happy Easter and God Bless!

By Wings Team Member Lisa Talbert

Hope

It is a beautiful early spring day. Tomorrow however, the temperature will drop 20 degrees. If this were November I'd be sighing and wish I lived farther south, but in the spring it doesn't affect me the same way. The knowledge that this time of year we will begin to have more warm days than cold ones gives me hope that winter must give way to spring.
We learn to have hope from past experience and trust. Past experience being the constant, as long as that remains the same we dare hope for the same result. Sometimes our hope rests on a person, our history in relationship with them may encourage hope for a certain out come because we've learned we can trust them.

Hope is tricky business, we live in a fallen world with a broken system and things we set our hope on can potentially let us down. Something new gets added to the mix and we end up with a different end. People disappoint us and to be fair, we have let others down who hoped in us too. Misplaced hope can be a painful experience.

When we are crushed by broken hope or see the brokenness our actions have caused in others we have a place of encouragement. Thank goodness God is not bound to the falseness of our broken system! It is impossible for God to lie, we who have accepted the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for our heart, a place of security. (Hebrews 6:18,19)

An anchor is a vivid picture of security. It holds the ship in a safe place though a fierce storm may threaten to throw it against the rocks. Hope, which is compared to an anchor, is offered through life in Jesus Christ. The God of hope offers to fill us as we trust in Him. (Romans 15:13) This not a limited offer, but can be accessed as many times as needed!

When life is disappointing, uncertain and downright dangerous, it is comforting to know that there is a safe place for our heart. That hope is available through faith. (Hebrews 11)

Real Rest

I have a love/hate relationship with our drive-thru mentality culture. The idea that everything can be done or should be gotten fast devalues many important things. Now I do admit to taking advantage of time-saving methods and love efficiency, but faster is definitely not synonymous with better. In resistance, I have tried to buck this powerful current which runs just under the surface of American life and found myself at odds with a system much bigger than me.

Sleep deprivation and stress levels are a major source of medical issues, yet people with work-alcoholic tendencies are often praised because they get so much done. Scheduling a block of time to do nothing is pretty much a sin in our culture. When we want to check-out we stick in a movie, get on facebook or surf the internet. Though we all need down time, we seldom give ourselves permission to really rest.

Women are the worst at this! If I work hard enough, better myself intellectually, and sacrifice for a time, surely I'll get where I want to be. If I have my kids in every sport, club and function maybe that will prove I'm a good Mom. If I go to church 3 times a week and am involved in every ministry does that mean I'm a good Christian? If I recycle, conserve gas and participate in disaster relief surely I am a responsible human being.  What keeps us on this mouse wheel? Who said we have to continue living like this? When is enough really enough to reward ourselves with a little rest?

God set a presidence for rest knowing we'd need it. The best rest is when we are at peace inside. Maybe that's the real problem...

If inner peace could be sold the manufacturer would be an over night trillionaire! Yet, God offers it to all who open their lives to Him. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." The Message.

What does it look like to "get away with Jesus?" We all get 24 hours each day and make the choices as to how we spend that time. We may feel these choices are out of our control at times, but in reality we are the only ones who can make those choices. Making time in our day for Jesus is a constant challenge, yet is vital to our ability to really rest. Whether through an internet devotional, reading the Bible, listening to worship music, talking with a friend who encourages us spiritually or getting away to just talk with Him (praying) you'll sense a rest like no other. Those moments are multiplied back to you over and over and worth the effort of finding them.

More

That word can do a lot of damage in us. With it we compare ourselves unfairly to others leaving us feeling less than--whatever; less beautiful, less intelligent, less wanted/needed, less lucky. The list goes on and on.

More does have a good side. It is the desire for more that gives us the strength to push through difficult situations to a resolution; in a broken relationship or a health issue or even just to finish a project.

What does it look like to want more of God? We turn to church or Christian TV and can be disappointed.  We turn to a friend we believe to be more spiritual than we are.  We turn to the Bible or a devotional book or Christian music and all these things are good, but it's when we turn to Jesus with our heart wide open that the desire for more will be met. He is the missing link because of what He did on the cross. Understanding, even believing He died for the sins of the whole world is too general its when that becomes a personal reality and we take responsibility for our sins which led to His death that change will occur. The most amazing realization is that He did it out of love for us! He saw us struggling under the weight of sin knowing we could never do enough to lift that. This is the greatest love-story rescue of all times!

Those who desire more of God  are promised to get what they're searching for (Matt. 5: 6) Those who look for Him are told they will find Him. (Matt. 7:7)

Wait! There must be more!! Surely, there's something I have to do, changes I should make first, this can't be that easy... where's the catch? At the beginning, God created all kinds of systems that sustain life as we know it; gravity, physics, atmospheric/oceanic cycles, seasons, migration/instinct patterns.
 But when it came to humans He decided to give us a will--the right to choose. I have wondered if He ever regretted that. In creating us with the ability to choose He also took the chance on being rejected by us. With all His power He will not force us to choose Him, He does not manipulate us or corers us into submission He waits, He loves. He did everything He could to reach out to us Jesus life and death showed this. The only thing that stands in the way of us connecting with more of Him is our decision to accept His provision personally. This is a conscious choice on our part, but it is only the beginning. We choose to open the door to Him and He invites us on the beautiful journey of getting to know Him.

These are foundational beliefs upon which Wings exists, however they are not mandatory view points for all who attend. We are adults, and as such respect is both extended and excepted. Practical life-issues, social networking and the honest exploration of faith will be encouraged. We are not in this process alone. Self-discovery is valuable, but perspective from others helps us see the bigger picture.

Welcome

Hi there!

If you are a young woman who's looking for an atmosphere to explore faith, build friendships and take intentional forward steps into your future... Wings may be just for you!

Such a gathering is coming soon!


A framework for young women to reach their potential; socially, spiritually and individually is being formed. We envision a strong support system as you reach for dreams, explore callings, and develop abilities. We want to provide an environment you can be comfortable bringing your friends to; Christian or not. We desire to listen to your heart-passion, and encourage you to step into God's timing and plan. We want to offer the benefit of years of adulthood without judgment, control or rigid how-to's being vulnerable about the time we spent (spend) searching for answers—allowing your ideas to take shape and have a safe place to try them.



Nights focusing on topics like:

• Education/Career path. What's your plan?
• Finances. Check,Please—Reality Check!.
• Image. More than skin deep.
• Motherhood, the hardest best thing you’ve ever done!
• Did I marry the “right”guy?
• Why is growing in God so hard?!
• Did my Faith grow up with me?
• Girls just wanta have Fun…Coffee Date!
• Recipe Exchange/Cooking together
• Book/Movie Reviews 

We are hoping that Wings will give you the tools you need to take flight in your faith, relationships, and self-image.  Please feel free to provide feedback or thoughts here at our blog or on facebook at www.facebook.com