Wellspring Women’s Ministry

What’s in a Name?

Karen Sleeth — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:51:02 +0000

My very first day ever of school was horrible. It was not the typical separation anxiety from my Mom; I was excited about going to school. My sister had been going for a year and bringing home the wonders of reading and finger painting and I was eager. I will grant you that I had a growing anxiety about getting my two milk-money pennies out of the knot Mom had tied in the corner of my handkerchief to prevent their loss. But that wasn’t the bad part.

After she had settled us into seats and quieted us down, my teacher called the roll. I was interested in this process and looked around identifying each student with the name called. I recognized a few faces from my neighborhood, and now I knew their names, too.

And then Miss Pinkham called a girl with the same last name as mine: Roberts, Karen. I looked around the room with everyone else but no one responded. Again, my teacher called her name, “Roberts, Karen.” On the third call she was looking directly at me. My mind was spinning – I felt like I had done something wrong but I wasn’t sure what. My name was Teeny. No one had ever called me anything else.

“You are Karen, honey,” Miss Pinkham said and smiled. I felt tears start to sting in my eyes but held back. I heard a few giggles and felt the heat in my face as tears slid down my cheeks. I didn’t even know my own name.

If you’ve ever taken a Dale Carnegie course you know that they place great emphasis on learning names. They say that hearing someone speak your name is the sweetest sound that you can hear.

God also places a high regard on names. In the Genesis 17:5 we see him change the names of Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah as a covenant and a promise that from them will come kings and nations.

In Genesis 32 Jacob wrestles with “a man” (verse 24) who changes his name to Israel in verse 28 because he has “striven with God and with men and [has] prevailed.” When Jacob/Israel asks the man’s name he responds “Why is it that you ask my name?” This is a typical Jesus response, if you ask me, answering a question with a question! But then He knew Jacob wasn’t really interested in His name. Jacob wanted to know what God could do for him, which is true to the nature of man. So then He blesses Jacob/Israel, which is also true to the nature of God. To me the critical verse is 30:

“So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.’”

Jacob knew it was God, and trusted that God knew him. He knew God’s name and put his trust in God. Just like it says in Psalms 9:10:

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

As much as I love Shakespeare, I think he got it wrong. “A rose by any other name…” implies that the name is not important. Our identity is wrapped up in our name. Our name IS important to God as is shown in the scriptures above. Everything about us is important to God – He counts our hairs! Not a task I’d want, though it doesn’t keep him too busy with mine.

I learned what my name was that first day of school but I didn’t know who I was for a long time. What is important is that God always knows our name and he loves and guides us. Though we fight against him, and like Jacob, he has to put our hip out of joint sometimes, when we finally hear him call our name, it IS the sweetest sound we have ever heard.

Have you heard Him call your name, or are you struggling not to listen? Have you been called by a different name and don’t know who you really are? Be at peace. When you know His name he will tell you your name.

Psalm 89:15-17:

“Blessed are the people …
who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face,
16who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.”

It’s not too late to register for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference scheduled for October 7-9.

Karen Sleeth

Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 27 years. Karen is asking the hard questions in 2011, trusting God for the answers (even when they are uncomfortable), relying on faith in the face of EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN, and believing Him for miracles because he promised Mark 16:17

!!! Conference Time !!!

Mama G — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:41:10 +0000

Last year at this time, the year before that, and the year before that, I was quite stressed out. The conference was coming up in two weeks and, for some reason, charismatic Christians are allergic to registering early! I would look at the number of registrants at the close of each day and worry that we weren’t going to reach the “break-even number.” This year, I am quite calm. In fact, I don’t even know how many women are registered to date. God must really have done something!

It was pretty simple really. At the beginning of this year I made a faith decision to trust God with the Wellspring conference. I gave the event to Him and said,

“God, this is your conference. I know you told me to have it and I am being obedient to do that. But You will have to do the rest. You will have to tell the people to come and provide the money for them. I can’t do that. You will have to give me the message that will touch their hearts. I can’t do that either. You will have to put it in the hearts of people to help and You will have to give them grace and wisdom to do a good job because I can’t do that. Most importantly, You will have to come to the conference Yourself in the power of Your Holy Spirit and make the whole thing worthwhile. I most certainly cannot do that! The truth is, the list of things I cannot do is endless. Perhaps I am a slow learner, God, but I have finally figured out that the success of this thing is entirely dependent upon YOU, not me. So I declare that Wellspring belongs to You, Lord. Whatever you tell me to do at this conference I will do — that’s my part — but the plan and the provision and the power of Your Presence are Your part, and I will leave that to You. You Alone.”

Amazingly simple, isn’t it? I wonder why it took me so long to pray that prayer from my heart so that it was an effective prayer. Well, that reason has a lot to do with the theme of this year’s conference: In the Shadow of the Almighty. I’ll be sharing a lot of good things that God has shared with me this year. And, since it is His conference and not mine, I can hardly wait!!

I hope to see you on October 7!

Don’t forget to register for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference scheduled for October 7-9.

Gloria Cotten

Gloria Cotten (aka Mamma G) is Wellspring’s President. Gloria is the author of In the Beginning and she hopes to write two or three more books in the future. Gloria loves the Lord because He Alone has the words of life. If she could give one piece of advice, it would be to let Jesus love you.

The Circus of Your Life

Saundra Littleton — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:36:25 +0000

I have been pondering the events of the past few weeks (some of which are still pending), and feeling overwhelmed. All of them very emotional in nature with the potential of bringing me down into the pit of despair and wrecking my faith and trust in God. All of these events have had to do with my precious family and I know there were moments when I took my eyes off the Lord.

Somewhere in all of the commotion the Lord reminded me of the theme we had for Vacation Bible School – the Son-Light Circus, invented by our beloved clown evangelist, Kevin Ross. I remember him saying that our lives are like a circus (three rings and all) and it is the Son, the owner of the circus, who brings His Light and Truth.

The problem with my circus was, that instead of just the traditional three rings going on at the same time, I now had at least five with a potential for more! Most of it felt like attacks and harassment from the enemy and yet I could see and feel the hand of the Father in every situation. I counted at least eighteen different highly emotional events happening in the same three week span.

It all seemed to culminate (at least I think it did – as I sit here writing nothing catastrophic has happened in the last twenty four hours – oops! Not quite twenty four!) with my husband coming close to falling off a twenty foot ladder that I was trying to hold as he was cleaning bat guano off the louvers of the air vent at the top of the house. This was after our bat infestation had been remedied through Wayne’s ingenuity and God’s divine intervention! God said we were to take dominion over the creatures and we did!

This was just after I had spent hours at the radiologist with our daughter whom we thought might have had a small stroke. Praise God!! It was not! It was an atypical migraine accompanied by neurological symptoms, like stroke, of which she had no previous history.

Needless to say, I totally lost it and had a royal meltdown! I can’t remember a time when I had felt so terrified. My husband was not frightened until he saw my condition. I think he had a reality check.

However, as always, my precious Father, Son and Holy Spirit have come to my aid and renewed my strength and hope. In my devotions, yesterday, was Isaiah 40:3 in the Amplified version:

“Those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.”

Bless God! The circus of my life continues and my only hope is in the Ringmaster-Owner of my circus, Jesus. He is ever faithful!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust (“believing” -KJV) in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

***************

Don’t forget to register for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference scheduled for October 7-9.

                                              ***************

Saundra Littleton

Saundra Littleton is in charge of hospitality for Wellspring, which is appropriate since she has a gift for hospitality. If Saundra could give one piece of advice, it would be to put Jesus first in everything you do! Submit yourself to Him wholly. Delight in Him, your Savior, your friend, the Lover of your soul, your Priest and Intercessor, your King, and out of this will come blessing, strength, health, love, peace, endurance, wisdom, discernment, everything you could ever want or need to walk through this life in victory and glorifying God.

Live and Active

Beth Stanfield — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:16:23 +0000

In July as Christian Assembly continued our sermon series entitled “Power to Live: a study of the Holy Spirit,” the visiting pastor began his comments with a statement that rang a bell for me. He said that the Holy Spirit is alive and active, and wants to be alive and active in our lives. Instantly I remembered the gauge of an acceptable yogurt—it must contain “Live and Active Cultures.” If yogurt does not have live yeast cultures, the benefit to our body is good taste but no real health impact. I make sure to find those words, “Live and Active Cultures” on the label before I invest in a carton of yogurt. The lesser quality product looks the part and may be tasty, but has no real impact for good in my body.

For me, the application was immediate. As a Christian and a dwelling for the Holy Spirit, do I just look the part or am I alive and active in His power? Does my presence in my sphere of influence have an impact for good. Am I salty? Do I make people thirsty to drink of Jesus?

I began this blog entry about two months ago, but never completed my thoughts. My husband and I went to a new favorite recently — Tutti-Fruitti. It is one of those self-serve yogurt shops that allow you to determine your rate of indulgence in the yummy yeast-filled freeze. Yep, there on the wall in big, bold letters: “Contains live and active cultures.” God is so faithful to get us back on [His] track if we are listening and watching.

He says in Mark 16:15:

“Go ye into all the world (all my personal world and wherever He would send me), and preach the Gospel to every creature.”

The Lord has given each of us the call to share His love, standard, and victory with anyone and everyone with whom we come in contact. Sometimes words are used, but other times the touch is life-to-life as others observe how we face the day. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, says of us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14.

The world is watching and needy. Matthew 5:16 continues,

“Let your light so shine before men that they would see YOUR good works and glorify YOUR FATHER in heaven.”

They watch YOU and it should make them thoughtful and thankful to GOD. Today it could be phrased, Let your influence be like “Live and Active Cultures” that permeate and infuse the life of God into everything around you. Jesus also gives a warning that smacks of yogurt that only tastes good, but has no real value in the body—no action. He says in Matthew 5:13,

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

[Have you noticed the reputation and love of God being trampled underfoot lately?] What has happened to the impact of God on the culture?

I think the “Live and Active Cultures” are love and kindness motivated by devotion to God. Galatians 5:13 tells us, “through love, SERVE one another.” 1 John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.”

God’s love was demonstrated by sending Jesus into the world to embody that love in action and obedience. Then Jesus died on the cross to free us from sin and allow us to love as He loved. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a yogurt mentality—be alive and active for God. Make an impact on the world through your love and obedience to Him. The result will be health to yourself and to the world you touch.

Matt Redmon sings it this way, “We are the free; Yours is the glory.”

***************

Don’t forget to register for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference scheduled for October 7-9.

                                                ***************

Beth Stanfield

Beth is a long-time member of Christian Assembly Church in Durham, NC. She and Jim have four children and almost (!) seven grandchildren. Beth loves her family and God’s people, and delights when they overlap.

She makes time for quilting, Carolina Hurricanes Hockey, their Pug, Annika, and driving to see grandchildren. Naming Psalm 16:11 her favorite Scripture, she is convinced that Jesus’ mercies are new every morning and there is great joy in His presence.

Wellspring Women’s Conference 2011

Mama G — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:16:21 +0000

Plans have been announced for the 2011 Wellspring Women’s Conference. Personally, I can hardly wait! God has been speaking to me about how He plans to show up (though I am always AMAZED at how He blesses us every year!). Mark your calendar and make plans to join us in the mountains in October. It is not too early to register either!

Learn more & register for the conference.

Trustin’ and Truckin’

Beth Stanfield — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:46:20 +0000

I was barreling down I-40 behind my husband. It is a rare occasion that we drive separate vehicles on a trip out of town. This time I was returning from a visit with our daughter and her family seven hours away in Tennessee. My husband met me halfway back, and we enjoyed a much-needed break from his work and routine with a mini-vacation in the mountains.

As we were on our way home—traveling in a cavalcade for the four-hour trip—my stomach suddenly started growling at me. So with the blessings of modern technology, I let my husband know that we needed to stop ASAP. I wanted dinner!

A bit later my husband’s truck took an exit. Not knowing where we were headed, I followed him off the exit, down the road a few miles and into a parking lot. Without any input from me about food or restaurant choices, he had chosen a restaurant that could accommodate us with good food, and had a grassy area for walking our little dog, who had needs of her own.

I was blessed by a wonderful meal in a convenient location. My husband knows me, he knows my likes and dislikes, and he believed me when I said I was ready to eat. I could safely trust that my needs would be met in an acceptable manner.

How about with God? Have you ever been on a roll and God took an exit? Were you content to follow, or did you give God a call to add your input and conditions? Did you tell Him how to meet your needs, and then ask Him to bless it? Or did you cavalcade with God, confident of His love and knowledge of you? (Ask me how I know both of these options!)

On that same trip, listening to a Bible teaching, I was struck by the statement that we should love and trust God because of His promises, not because of His explanations. (Joyce Meyer quoting Warren Wiersbe.) If the Lord never explained another circumstance or choice in your life, would you follow Him anyway? Allow me to recall a few of the promises He has made to each one of us whom He has called to Himself.

Hebrews 13:5-6 …for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts (plans) that I think toward you”, says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalm 34:10 Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust In Him.

John 12:26 Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me, and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

As the hymn of old says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Our great God is able and trustworthy.

Truck on!!!

You can find information about the 2011 Wellspring Conference on this page!! Check it out!

Beth Stanfield

Beth is a long-time member of Christian Assembly Church in Durham, NC. She and Jim have four children and almost (!) seven grandchildren. Beth loves her family and God’s people, and delights when they overlap.

She makes time for quilting, Carolina Hurricanes Hockey, their Pug, Annika, and driving to see grandchildren. Naming Psalm 16:11 her favorite Scripture, she is convinced that Jesus’ mercies are new every morning and there is great joy in His presence.

Legacy of Love

Karen Sleeth — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:38:51 +0000

When my grandmother died almost 30 years ago, the only thing that remained of her life was a shoebox with a few possessions and one granddaughter who loved her. The image of that shoebox burned into my teenage memory as a symbol of pathos. She had spent a lifetime building up defenses to protect her from the hurt she had experienced as a child and only accomplished creating walls of distrust, suspicion, and separation from the rest of humanity.

As I grew older and learned I would not have a family, and then when my marriage of 18 years ended, the enemy used that shoebox as a symbol to me of the loss of any legacy. He whispered that when I left this earth, the memory of my life would be less than the shoebox, because there would not even be one granddaughter to love or remember me.

Last weekend God led me to the mountains to pray, study, and learn scripture with a dear friend. We had a wonderful time with him. While I was in conversation with God over his wonderful creation, He drew my attention to a dead tree in the foreground.

“I want your life to be like that tree.”

I was confused. I was taking in all the beautiful life in my surrounding and God pointed out the one stark, dead thing and tells me he wants my life to resemble that?

“I thought you wanted me to be like a tree planted by the waters?” I asked. “That old dead tree doesn’t look like the tree your describe in Jer 17:8.”

He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.” – Jer 17:8

God went on to explain that yes, he does want me to be like the Jeremiah tree. But, just like the dead tree provides many things for the forest creatures, he wants me to live now in such a way that I leave a legacy similar to the dead tree. He wants my life to affect other lives in such a way that I create the same benefit to them as that old dead tree created for the creatures around it.

As I watched the tree, I noticed birds fluttering down to rest in the branches. I saw a couple of squirrels playing through its limbs. The Lord told me that the tree was a place of rest, a home, a look out post, and acted as a place to hide for different creatures.

I asked how my life could be all those things to people after I am no longer here. It seems impossible enough to be that to others in life, let alone after I am gone.    God told me that if I stand firm in my faith and invest in people’s lives I would create a haven with my life for others when I am gone.

I remembered a dear saint I knew of who held firm to the promise that her son would return to the Lord when the evidence was to the contrary. She stood on Proverbs 22:6 (Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.) and would not waiver. She died trusting that her prayer of faith would be answered but not seeing the result. Several years later, her son again turned to serve the Lord. Her faith has always been a resting place for me.

I think of our lives or legacy being a home to other when I remember the love and comfort I receive from a previous pastor and friend. He was a loving, kind, and spirit filled saint who truly thought more highly of others than he did himself. He encouraged and loved me through a very difficult time, called me daughter, and always shared God’s love for me.

I know that in order for me to be that lookout post, I not only need to invest in people’s lives, but I need to make myself vulnerable and transparent. I must be willing to admit where I have failed as a warning to them. God can use our mistakes to help others. 2 Cor. 12:9 Paul states: ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I no longer think of my legacy as being an empty shoebox. Now, with joy, I think of a dead tree – and I know my life can be a resting place, a home, a lookout post, and yes, even the silly and funny things of my life (and there are plenty of those) can be a playground. I will have a legacy of love to leave. Only God can take something so pathetic and turn it into something so bright and hopeful!

Karen Sleeth

Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 27 years. Karen is asking the hard questions in 2011, trusting God for the answers (even when they are uncomfortable), relying on faith in the face of EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN, and believing Him for miracles because he promised Mark 16:17

Passover — the Horseradish!

Karen Sleeth — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 04:35:33 +0000

I personally do not enjoy hot, spicy food. For me, the pain that my tongue, gums, and mouth experience eliminates all ability for my taste buds to register taste. I am left with throbbing pain and numbness. It is not something I like to repeat. I appear to be alone among my friends in this experience and opinion. If it is hot, spicy, has a red (or green) color and stars or peppers beside it on a menu they will order it (with enthusiasm). So I was less than enthused when I noticed the bowl of horseradish on the table last night.

I was honored (and excited) to share in a traditional Seder that celebrated Christ’s fulfillment of the Passover. It was an interesting and moving celebration, but I was hesitant about eating that horseradish.

We were told that the horseradish was a bitter herb they called maror and symbolized the harshness of the slavery that the Jews endured in Ancient Egypt. We were instructed to take enough to cause us to cry, in order to symbolize our sorrow for their suffering. I was already crying at the thought of eating it!

After we ate the maror, we were given Charoset, a sweet, brown, mixture of fruits and nuts representing the mortar Jewish slaves made without straw. It was awesome! I was not allowed to relish (no pun intended) the sweet comfort long, before out came the maror again. I felt like the man being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine – down one minute and up the next.

Now we were instructed to make a sandwich on the matzah with the maror base and charoset on top. I could handle it easily together. It was even pleasant!

Our leader said that though the maror is bitter, the charoset overcomes the bitterness. Just as having Christ in us fills our lives with sweetness through bitter times.

I started thinking about the maror in terms of problems and some problems become so overwhelming you can see, hear, and taste nothing else – like me with hot foods.   But Christ in me is like the Charoset. He is there to protect me from the bitterness of this life and I can have as much of him as I want to cover the bitterness!

So many people don’t have Christ within them to protect them from the bitterness of life and some have Him in them but don’t know how to rely on him to protect them from the bitterness.

He said he would give us rest, his burden is easy, come to him; trust in him, no one comes to the Father but by him.

God loves when we demonstrate our faith. We are made in his image. Don’t we get happy when someone shows faith in us? I know I do. If your faith is strong and you rely on him easily, encourage a struggling brother or sister in the faith. Seek out that person who seems alone and let them know how much God loves them. God may use you to save their lives or even their souls.

It is because of God’s incredible love for you and me and Christ’s inconceivable sacrifice we are able to share that faith and love and enjoy this blessed season of the year. Hallelujah!

Karen Sleeth

Karen Sleeth has lived in North Carolina for 27 years. Karen is asking the hard questions in 2011, trusting God for the answers (even when they are uncomfortable), relying on faith in the face of EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN, and believing Him for miracles because he promised Mark 16:17

Presence Event 2010 | Roanoke Rapids | Session 3

Trend Setting Design — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:59:16 +0000

Presence Event 2010 | Roanoke Rapids | Session 2

Trend Setting Design — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:58:16 +0000