Jana Spicka and Women Getting Real Ministries
Posts tagged Grace
Faithul is He
Nov 7th
We never know when or how God will explode into action, only that He WILL. We call it trust, or confidence or even faithfulness. It’s an odd word. To quote Princess Bride, “I do not think it means what you think it means.” I have been kicking around this conversation with Him lately and I am surprised by what I am getting. Take the word Faithful. Full of faith. Full of believing, we would say. Faith is not the same thing as, “I hope so.” Faith is “I know so.”
And the shocker is, God calls himself Faithful. He says that He is full of faith or full of believing. So who exactly does He believe in? Himself, of course. God is so sure, so certain, so convinced of His power, goodness and ability, that He says of Himself, I am the Faithful one. There is none like Me.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
On and on in the Scripture God tells us, “This is who I am. Bank on it.” Sometimes, when we get sideways by success or failure, we stretch words of “God’s faithfulness” like a too small band-aid over a bleeding wound. It never seems to cover or comfort the hurt. But I would challenge that His faithfulness was the point any way. His faithfulness is not a consolation prize. It is the goal, to reveal in all circumstances His ability and desire to Be God. I am that I am.
He means that. Then, now and forever.
Yes and Amen Retreat
May 20th
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.“
2 Corinthians 1:20
Friday, April 13 through Sunday, April 15, 2012
We are going to use this “get away from the world time” to talk about:
What are God’s dreams for us?
What does He see for our lives, and our futures?
What has He already said, “Yes and Amen” to that we just don’t know about yet?
How do women get Un-stuck?
False expectations and demands around food, sex, beauty, and love (and the Lord only knows what else…) What lifts women up?
Rest and release in the love of God.
Freedom to use our voice and heart.
Letting go of the need to control.
Join us for this unique retreat held at Smoky Mountain Christian Village. A beautiful complex out of the traffic zone of Pigeon Forge, TN
All Weekend Packages Include:
- Five sessions of Teaching and Materials with Jana Spicka
- 2 Night’s Lodging in a large and spacious chalet. It has three floors of bedrooms, bathrooms, play areas, dining and kitchen on each floor. Check in 3pm, check out 11am. Heated pool and nature trails on site.
- Four Meals and Snacks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday morning. (Friday night dinner is on your own before first session.)
This is an intimate gathering limited to 50 women. So don’t wait to register. Payment plans are available please ask about them.
Click here to hear a testimony from one of last years attendees.
Women Getting Real Weekly Class
Apr 5th
This is a great place to go deeper into relationship with Jesus and other women. Both seem scary we know. But this is a place where we talk about real life topics and look for God to show up in the middle of our lives. 
The class is for all ages and does not require perfect attendance. Or homework.
Join us in person at Fellowship Church on Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville,TN every Tuesday night from 7:00pm – 9:00pm (childcare is provided for those who register).
For specific details around the class please feel free to email us at info@womengettingreal.com.
We meet three weeks on and one week off. Dates of class are listed below. We are planning to Livestream at least once month. So stay tuned for those details. Be sure to sign up for RSS or Facebook alerts so you don’t miss out on “Monday Snack Time with Jana”, its a weekly vlog.
Class Dates for Spring Semester 2011: April 5, 19, 26; May 3, 17, 24, 31
(new class location coming soon, stay tuned for details)
To hear audio from classes up until now check out our archived classes
The Other Side of Asking
Feb 22nd
It was one of those 4 a.m. wrestlings. I was rolling around and around about this relationship and that problem. “Lord, help me, help me.” And His voice came so clear to my spirit: Do you Receive My grace as much as you Ask for it?
What?? Then He tutored me on moving from always asking to simply receiving the Yes and Amen of His heart: His Grace is His promise to me, to you. So I went back through my list and re-stated my prayers: “Lord, I receive Your grace for this situation. Lord, I receive Your grace for this relationship. Lord, I receive Your grace for the unknown of this outcome.”
I do a lot of talking to the Lord, which is a good thing. But after this revelation, I realize the Lord is leading me to a different place of believing in Him. Remember Graham Cooke said that we work “from victory not for it.” So in the same way, we not only ask for grace but we Receive it. Do I believe this? Do you? It is one thing to ask, it is another thing to believe He hears and responds. Yes, we may not see the end result immediately. (It’s called walking by faith not by sight.) But will we walk in the belief of and rest in the Yes of His Grace?
I got the best picture of two people talking. The first person asked for a present from the other person. But just as the second person began to hand the first a gift, the first person turned her back. The first person kept turning in circles and continued to ask for a gift. All the while, the second person was trying to get the attention of the first person to give her the gift she asked for.
Sound familiar? Maybe today, modify your prayers from “Will You Lord . . . ? to “I receive Your grace for . . . .” He loves to be our Yes and Amen God.
Delicious Deception
Apr 14th
There is a lot of effort, advice, and energy surrounding our issues. I am thinking of food in particular. It is a tragic trend to study.
Chuck and I have seen the odd parallel rise among the sexes. As men turned to porn for relief, excitement and comfort, women turned to food for the same. For both there exists a deception of love and acceptance. We form “relationship” with an object. We turn to a seductive picture of a body and how it promises to momentarily makes us feel. We turn to a seductive picture of a food item and how it promises to momentarily make us feel.
I kid you not in Walmart last year, there was a calendar display that stopped me suddenly. Side by side. Maxim and Desserts. It was such a telling moment. Two different calendars, one simple lie. A year full of fantasy.
What flavor ? Red head or strawberry? Brunette or banana split?
For both sexes, the compass of True North is broken. Or maybe instead of True North, the compass of Truth is broken. We turn to something other than Truth to define, comfort, heal us.
Sure, sure we know that. We only have to look at our out of whack minds and bodies to see this doesn’t work. But now what? Is joining another “don’t touch, don’t eat” group going to really heal the hurt and hunger inside?
For today, I want to suggest you begin a conversation with God and ask Him: Where do I go when I hurt?
It is not a quick conversation. But a slow dawning. Like the sun coming up, the sky goes from black to gray to full light. Ask the Lord to bring you revelation. Before you tear down idols, you have to know the Truth. So let’s begin there.
YOU AND I
by Shane Barnard and Shane Everett
Clean I call you clean
I came to clean you and it’s done
Here’s a call to all who’ve
Felt disqualified to run
Pleasures flowing here and there
From my right hand
What’s mine is yours
Come behold all of who I am
You and I will run
You and I will run forever
All is done
You and I will run
Come with what you do not have
And buy what’s undeserved
Feast and drink, the bounty’s great
I know you hear
But have you heard
Have you heard
Clean!
I’ve called you clean!
“I am dirty”
Clean!
“So unworthy”
Clean!
“Dirty”
That’s what I’m wanting
You and I will run
You and I will run forever
All is done
You and I will run
“Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
(Is 55:1)
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
