Freedom from Shame....

I'm honored to be guest writing for Lyn Smith today. She has a fabulous teaching ministry that you MUST check out! While you're there, I hope you'll pop on over and read the post I was given the opportunity to write for her "Freedom Fridays" segment.

Have a blessed day everyone!

Fabulous Females for #FF!

So, if you've missed any of the September 2010 "Blog Party," you can still get caught up on some FABULOUS posts by women who are making a beautiful difference in our generation.

There is only ONE great calling--and that is the calling God gave YOU.*

When the comparing and competing has a chance to take a break, we get to fully embrace God's call upon our own lives and learn to sink ourselves into it. I've asked women who have done just that to be a part of a special month's long blog party. You've already heard from a few, who will be posted here as my "Follow Friday" suggestions, and you'll get the chance to hear from more in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back often!

Follow Friday (#FF):

@DawnMooring who wrote "Vortex" and got this party off to a great start!

@JenniferOWhite who shared with us how she overcame "Superhero Syndrome" (I can SO relate!)

@StephanieShott who wrote a beautiful message called "The Pearl"

@MichelleLMyers who wrote about the beauty of a transparent life here ~when will this truth finally sink in?

@Lyn_Smith who wrote "But Know One Knows" on the topic of integrity

You definitely want to add these ladies to your list of folks to follow on Twitter and facebook. You'll find their other online info and bios at the bottom of each of their posts. Feel free to leave comments on the posts as you read through--it's been a treat to hear from and interact with readers! You all have some GREAT stuff to share, so don't keep it to yourselves, k? : )

Have a GREAT weekend and don't forget to check back for more great stuff from more awesome "Chicks!"

~Shelley~







(I heard that somewhere, years ago, but I can't remember who gets the credit for saying it first.)

Blog Party Continues with “But No One Knows …” by Lyn Smith

Contrary to how most people think, God actually cares much more about what we do in private than what we parade out for others to see. Not that He's a bully who is waiting to "whac-a-mole" us when we mess up. That is so NOT the heart of God.

His eyes roam back and forth throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chron. 16:9). He is not looking for people to punish, but for people to bless. He's looking for the faithful that He can pour into and onto – those He knows will be good stewards of His blessings.

That's where it comes down to our private integrity. Only God knows who we really are all the way down to our deepest core. He knows what we think. He knows what we look at. He knows what our motives are. Those are the things He assesses when choosing people to use in His kingdom, for His glory.
In the privacy of my bedroom or bathroom, who am I? Sitting at my computer, who am I? In my closet choosing clothes to wear, who am I? No one else may know, but God knows. He knows if I am looking at pornography, buying things online I can't afford, or gambling online. He knows if I'm texting, emailing, or chatting with someone inappropriately. He knows if I'm dressing to look sexy or simply well put together. He knows if I do my Bible reading because I "should" or because I long for Him.

I cannot just love God, go to church, do nice things including ministry, and expect God to bless me. If I sincerely desire His power and blessing on my life, then my private integrity has to be such that God can trust me with it.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)

Who are you … really?

lyn smith

For more than 20 years, Lyn has served in leadership positions with Bible Study Fellowship International (BSF). After years of biblical training under Dallas Theological Seminary's professors and other scholars, she served the last eight years as a Teaching Leader. Each week, she presented lectures from Scripture to a class averaging 150 women who met to study the Bible from September to May every year.
 

Committed to laying foundational biblical truth in people's lives to encourage freedom and solid living, Lyn continues to follow God's leading for His glory and encourages others to do the same

 Making her home near Oklahoma City, Lyn is married to Stanton and they have three children: Austin, Juliette, and Avery. When she's not doing life in her four-inch stilettos, she's being athletic and running in her favorite sneakers.
 Find out more about Lyn, her ministry, and her availability to speak at your next event by visiting her website http://www.lynsmith.org/
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