We Were Made for This

"Women who follow Jesus don't just rock cradles.  We are meant to rock the world with all the love and hope and Holy Spirit power inside each one of us. We are global from every tribe, tongue, generation, and nation. We were born to nurture, born to be wild with the power of His love, all for the glory of God." --page 75, NURTURE, by Polly Balint.

I've never met or heard of Natalie Runion until last night. I was listening to Christian Radio WWEV 91.5 FM while I was preparing dinner. As I was clanging pots and pans, I couldn't hear every word Radio Host Corrie (Haynes) King was saying but I heard enough to know I was hearing words from a kindred spirit!

Pan drop (well, I wasn't holding a mic!) and I stopped to listen. What Corrie was saying was exhilarating music to my ears. I had to call the station to ask, "Was that something Corrie wrote or was she reading someone else's story? I would love a copy of whatever she was reading. I would love to post it in my blog, if that's ok."

It was Corrie's mother, Kelly, at the station, who quickly texted me back, sending me the entire message written by a woman named Natalie Runion, an author and speaker. Kelly let me know it was fine to share right here!

So here it is! 

"This Pentecostal girl often wants to pack up my car and drive towards revival fire, but the Lord reminded me I carry my own flame.

And If I'll stir it up, He will light it up and I don't have to drive thousands of miles to find revival.

What if we didn't load up buses to drive to another city and instead filled up our own churches and college campuses with worship and prayer in our town?

What if we opened our homes and schools and cafes to the people we walk among and introduced them to a move of God?

I was convicted how quickly I wanted to go towards the power of God when that same power moves and lives in me.

Why are we so drawn to movements and expressions that can be captured rather than our own mission in front of us?

Maybe it's because we're desperate for a move of God in our own lives but we've grown dry and weary where we are.

But cities aren't magic, and movements aren't forever so we have to learn to fan the flame within us and be the light to the darkness around us.

So be it, do it, start it...don't chase revival, pursue the power and presence of God.

And whatever He is doing in other cities and countries He will do for us all over the world because He loves to meet with His people. Their obedience is already lighting up hearts around the U.S. and I am so grateful.

Holy Spirit, come. Move among us. Break out in cities all over the world and remind us we carry the very power and presence of God to speak dead things back to life. Breathe on us." --Natalie Runion

Amen, Sisters! Let's do this! 

💖Polly

An Overcoming Life

The LORD is the strength (and the joy) of His people.

Psalm 28:8

"God does not give us an overcoming life--He gives us life as we overcome." wrote Oswald Chambers in his world-renowned devotional, My Utmost for His Highest.  And yes, he italicized the phrase, "as we overcome." 

God calls His people overcomers.  In the Biblical sense, to overcome is explained in Ephesians 6:10: "Be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power." We are to obey what He commands, resist temptations, and keep standing in faith. No matter how brutal, how devastating the storms that come, or how long they last, God is greater.  To be an overcomer, there is always something we have to do to overcome whatever has come against us.  

Oswald Chambers puts it like this: "We cannot do the things we long to do so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes to us and says, 'Arise from the dead.' When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to 'arise from the dead' and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we 'get up and get going.'"

Here are a few Biblical examples:

In John 4:8, we're told of the story of the invalid who had been lying at the pool for 38 years waiting to be healed!  Jesus came upon Him and told him to, '"Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was healed; he picked up his mat and walked."

In Exodus 14:16 God told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hands over the Red Sea to divide the water for the Israelites to safely pass on dry ground. When they were safely on the other bank of the sea, God closed up the waters and drowned the enemies of His people.

In Mark 5:25-34, the woman with the issue of blood heard about Jesus and with great faith, was willing rise up and push her way through noisy crowds to get close enough to Jesus to touch His garment. She believed if she got that close to Him, she would be healed. And she was completely healed.

Oswald Chambers writes, "Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, 'Stretch out your hand' (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life."

This is love for God: to obey His commands...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it who overcomes the world? Only He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:3-5

Polly💖

Then Along Came Patty!

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It all started three years ago. 

Woodmont Golf & Country Club has had several active women's golf leagues scheduled with the pro shop for 9- and 18-hole weekly play. The Woodmont Ladies Golf Association (WLGA) continues to be a well-established group that plays Tuesday and Thursday mornings, but there are other smaller groups established by ladies who set up weekly tee times that met their schedules:  the Wednesday play at 4:30 p.m., and the Saturday group.

Patty Nay

Founder and CEO The Patty Whackers

At the time, Patty Nay was the very busy assistant principal at nearby Macedonia Elementary School, until she retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year. But it was three years ago when she realized she was part of another demographic in the neighborhood, as a lady who worked fulltime, had children, and still wanted to play golf with ladies during the week. She had late afternoon meetings quite often and even a 4:30 p.m. tee time wasn't working for her.

 

  

And then along came Patty's brainstorm. "I thought I could get maybe 8 ladies who worked, and had kids, to play later in the day on Wednesdays at 5:30," said Patty, nonchalantly. "And the ladies who couldn't make it by 5:30 could just jump in as soon as they could get to the club because they would already be signed up to play that day."

                                                             

Patty began sharing her idea with a few friends to see if there was interest. Oh yes, there was lots of interest, excitement, actually!   Friend and fellow golfer, Kathy Stevenson, helped come up the group's name: Patty Whackers. Patty said, "Kathy said to me, 'We're going to whack that ball!"'  And the name was hilariously birthed! Just like the encouraging tone Patty sets at each outing: enjoy!

At the time of this writing, Patty Whackers consist of 39 active members. They hold full and parttime jobs, they're moms with children involved in countless school activities, women who travel with their jobs, and senior ladies. Patty has met a huge need. When the women get together, every week there is lots of laughter, because Patty wanted it to be fun to come out and play. And for ladies to grow in the game and in the rules and in friendships.

Patty cooked up another delightful idea in planning the Patty Whackers standard -- to extend the weekly event by asking the club to provide dinner at the club, to keep the party going. She met with Food & Beverage Director Robert Gilbreath to work out a plan for the ladies to order dinner before play when they checked in at the pro shop.  Then the meals would be ready when the ladies finished the round.

                                                                                                       

            

Patty said, "The Patty Whackers is not a teaching group (the golf swing) but will be supportive of teaching women golf course rules of play. "We follow golf etiquette but certainly give grace. We play best ball to build confidence for the ladies, and it also helps to keep play moving along. I love getting more and more women involved in the sport of golf. What's happening is that ladies who haven't played in a while, and many haven't played in five years, are coming back. For some it has built families, the wife/mom is playing again with her kids and her husband!"

Patty Whackers 3rd Season Kick-off Open House

"I think a lot of women in our Woodmont neighborhood want to do it It's for them," said Patty, "but they don't have the confidence. All it takes is for them to come out and play and have one good shot and they can see what's possible. Or when they miss a shot, they'll see it's ok, take another swing at it! I just want to give ladies an opportunity to enjoy a game that I like so much. Besides, when we get out there, laughter is the best medicine!"

. Yep. Along came Patty and she's just getting started!

A cheerful heart has a continual feast! 

💖Polly