PureLife

In God We Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Josephine Llale) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Picture taken by Savannah Squyres

“In God We Trust” is the American national motto, but is this really a reality in our lives?

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6—“T rust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” (NLT). I have discovered in my own life that it easier to memorize these verses than to believe them.

A few months ago, I sensed the Lord leading me to take a few weeks off from work to rest. Taking leave and remainining in the same environment would have defeated the whole purpose of resting. I made a decision to spend time outside the country. During my time of preparation for the trip, I had to put so many things in place to avoid any “disaster” from occurring while I was away. The amount of preparation for what I was leaving behind was more overwhelming than that of my travels ahead. Thoughts of aborting my travel plans were my constant companions. It took divine intervention to continue with the trip. Common sense was saying I should not leave. Thank God I did.

In the plane I felt like a helpless chick. I was not in control of the plane. If anything happens to the plane , God forbid, there was nothing that I could do except to call on the Name of the Lord. After all, He is my refuge and His everlasting Arms are under me (Deut. 33:27). The penny finally dropped that I had a false sense of my abilities. I am not Josephine the Almighty, but He is. I mean God the Almighty, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He created the universe and sustains everything by the mighty power of His commands (Heb.1:3). So, I have learned to let go and let God.

Not worrying may seem irresponsible. How can I not worry when I don’t have money in my bank account? How can I not worry when things are not going well in my relationships? How can I not worry when everything is going wrong? It is called trust. He says we should cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. (1 Pet.)

I ask you to spend some time with Him like Mary. Let go of some of your responsibilities for some time (with wisdom of course). Like Martha and me, you will realise that some of your responsibilities are false responsibilities. Let us sit at His feet, the better choice, and allow Him to be God Almighty in our everything.

A Generous Life

noreply@blogger.com (Josephine Llale) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:53:00 +0000

Picture taken by Savannah Squyres

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Every time I heard this verse, it was mostly during the tithes and offering messages at church. My understanding of this Scripture was recently challenged.

I was sitting next to a guy in the plane who complained of a stiff neck. Each time he turned to talk to me, the poor guy looked like a robot. We were on a seventeen-hour flight. The stiff neck started about six hours into the flight. For the majority of the journey, I could only offer sympathy. Just as we were about to land, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to offer him more than sympathy. The Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart that I should pray for him.

I don’t usually pray for strangers—especially in a public place. When the impression came, I did everything I could to disregard it but to no avail. Finally, I threw in the towel. I asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. There was no instant healing, but I could tell from his look after I finished praying that something had shifted.

The Lord reminded me of the Scripture in Hebrews 13:2 (NLT), “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.” Whether that guy was an angel or not, I do not know. My hope is that He recognized how special he is to Jesus because of the willingness of a stranger to pray for him in his time of need..
After all, how many strangers offer to pray for you?

Most of the strangers we meet will not be angels, but if we offer them kindness, a smile, a prayer or a kind word, they may start feeling like angels are near. Let us be His Hands and His Feet to the world that so desperately needs Him.

Spa Weekend for the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Lane) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:33:00 +0000

I am in serious need of a pedicure, so don't even think about looking at my feet at PureLife this weekend. Pedicures are not something on which I generally spend a lot of time and money --- aaaand it shows. On one special occasion my friend, Rebecca, treated me to one and the two very nice Thai pedicurists sat side by side scrubbing my feet in a dialogue that went something like, "Man, what are those, pterodactyl feet?" "Whew, I know. You know that part in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian when KaMunRah gets the code to the ancient tomb because the Alfred Einstein bobbleheads revealed that it was pi and all the gross, dusty creatures came out?" "Yeah." "Looks like that." I know this because I am a fluent speaker of Thai.

Well, okaaaay, but I really like Thai food.

I went home that day and interrupted my husband's business calls and my kids' schoolwork to show them my new feet. They just looked at me blankly and said, "Who are you and what have you done with our mother?" "When do you go back to the mother ship?" I mean, my feet hadn't looked that young and new and fresh since I was 8. They were unrecognizable.

The aforementioned Rebecca once referred to PureLife as a "spa weekend for your soul". Imagine setting aside a weekend to peel off the old, tired, dusty layers of your inner self and taking the time to become new, radiant, energized. There is a host of radiant women working behind the scenes for us, to make sure that this weekend will be just that. And they are a hilarious crew.

If spending an hour with these ladies is an indication of things to come, I am ready. My soul is certainly due for a hot stone massage, a vitalize peel and a salt glow.

And a pedicure.

See you there!

All PureLife images in this post copyright Karen Lane and Karen Lane Photography.

Because of Your Faith it Will Happen

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Collie) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:48:00 +0000

As I read my Bible the other day, I finished Psalm 119, reminded how powerful and amazing the Word of God is. I was convicted as I thought, "What a privilege I take for granted it is to own a copy of the very Word of God, what a blessing to have Truth that I can hold in my hands and use to light my path." As I thought about the privilege of this Word, I wrote down a simple prayer:

I want Your Word to be more to me than what I have made it in my life.

Just a few moments later, the Scripture printed at the top of that page of my journal leapt off the page at me:

Two blind men...went right into the house where He was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” “Yes, Lord,” they told Him, “we do.” Then He touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” (Matthew 9:27b-29, NLT)

And in those last seven words, Jesus was leaping off the page to speak to me, to tell me something about myself and my life right now. And since you may at some stage find yourself in this boat, I thought I’d share the lesson with you.

The epiphany was the simple realisation -- perhaps a reminder in your case, a correction of wrong-thinking in mine -- that God chooses to move according to our faith. Better put, there is a real, tangible relationship between our faith, what we believe and what will happen as a result of those beliefs.

I have recently fallen into the trap of feeling like this: “Well, I’ll pray about X or Y, but I know the Lord’s gonna do what the Lord’s gonna do.” I am going through the motions of prayer, but I don't believe my prayers will change anything.

How this lie creeps in is a million dollar question I am not sure I know the answer to, but at some stage I’d hazard a guess we all feel like we’re talking to the ceiling and have trouble believing the bumper sticker catch phrase: Prayer Changes Things.

But the real, amazing, demonstrated Truth, is that there is power in asking, seeking, knocking and believing.

And Jesus spoke to you and me when He spoke to the blind men: Because of your faith, it will happen.

No matter who you are, whether you’ve been walking with Jesus days or decades, God hears your prayers. Although the answer may not come as quickly as you want, or exactly how you want, don’t believe for a second that that means that you are of a lesser caliber than the next guy.

Keep bringing your requests before God, with prayer and supplication. He can make it plain to you if your prayers are misdirected, or if you are right on target and He wants you to keep believing. With man, the thing you’re believing for might be impossible, but with God, all things are possible.

The God who created the universe and can do absolutely anything has decided to limit Himself, and to work through our prayers, and our faith. So keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, and keep believing. Because of your faith, it will happen.

___________________________

Caroline Collie is a thinker and a dreamer, a Missionary Mom, and a lover of bacon and avocado. She and her husband, and their Scottish-African-American son, live just outside Cape Town, SA and are the Directors of a Charity called Samaritan’s Feet South Africa. You can read more from Caroline at her blog, From Africa, With Love.

It's time to get on the offense...

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Gerald) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 03:32:00 +0000

Well, it’s football season. I don’t think only men get into the spirit of football. There’s something exciting about football season. I prefer going to games and being a part of the atmosphere. Some of my fondest memories at UNC involved dousing myself in Carolina blue, putting on my pearls to add a bit of class, meeting up with my friends at the student gate, and blazing off toward the midfield section, grabbing a few pompoms on the way. The air is overwhelmingly dense with the ensuing battle that is waiting to take place on the field in front of us: a battle of good (Carolina) verses evil (everyone else).

Life is a constant struggle between good and evil. There is so much pain and suffering in the world that most people have to live their lives day to day. Some people are so hurt that they are too afraid to hope for anything because the past has taught them to always expect to get hit. Life is about defense versus offense. The defense on a football team is imperative to the team’s success. Its sole job is to protect the home goal from the offense’s attempts at crossing the line of scrimmage or the goal line. However, if the defense has to continually play in the game because the team has a weak offense, the game has a good chance at being lost. Unfortunately, even UNC has had this situation in a game. The offense could never get past the other team’s defense, and our defense could not last 45 minutes of continual play.

I see so many Christians, myself included, always on the defense. There have been so many days where I’ve expected the enemy to try to come into my territory. After a while, the other team knows your weaknesses and even anticipates your next move. The enemy strategically hits you where it hurts the most. For me, it’s my self-esteem. All it takes is for me to have one negative thought about myself that can turn into a downward spiral of worthlessness.

In the same way that the offense knows how to attack the weaknesses of the defense, at some point it’s time for the defense to see that the offense is attacking them in the same way every time. If the defense always leaves a hole up the middle, all the quarterback has to do is hand the ball to the running back and there goes the first down and or touchdown. After so many times, the defense better close up that hole, forcing the offense to either try another route or force them into a turnover on downs.

It’s time to get on the offense. The defense has finally closed up the holes. Practically for me, it’s learning how to automatically speak truth over myself. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” This is your WAR CRY!!!!! God has equipped us with the necessary tools to not only affectively defend ourselves but strategically fight against the attacks of the enemy. He has given us His word, truth trumps lies. He has given us worship, praise trumps pain. He has given us His spirit, life trumps death.

The Christian life promises persecution, yet the Christian life promises victory. Romans 8:14-17 says, “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Hillsong’s song “Desert Song” says, “I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ.” Praise the Lord that we are indeed victorious over our current situations, victorious over the impeding attacks of the enemy and victorious over anything that sets itself up against the truth that is in Jesus Christ. We have strong offense and strong defense. We will have a winning season. We are victorious in Christ Jesus!

A Beautiful Woman

noreply@blogger.com (Josephine Llale) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:48:00 +0000

I was watching Oprah recently. The show was about beauty. The depths women in different continents would go to for beauty was unbelievable. In some countries women drank cow’s urine and in others, women jumped on snow, dressed in towels only, all this in the name of beauty. I could not believe the vanity in all this, but before I could cast the first stone, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a time when I was on a mission in Uganda.

After our mission team spent five days teaching and encouraging the saints at our sister church in Kampala, our mission leader graciously gave us a day off. Our host had planned to take us to Jinja, a city 54 miles (87 km) east of Kampala for the day. Jinja, is located on the shores of Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile River (the longest river in the world) is found there. We were all looking forward to the trip until I remembered that in two weeks time I was going to be a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. At that time my hair was “misbehaving”. What was I going to do with it? Suddenly I had a difficult decision to make, Jinja or my hair? I am afraid that on that particular occasion my hair won the day. How could I, possibly, miss this kairos* moment? Back home in South Africa I swear by any Ugandan saloon.

Peter says, “ Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel –rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God,” 1 Pet. 3: 3-4. These verses do not negate outer beauty. Thank goodness! They exhort women to work harder on their inner beauty.

In their book Captivating, John and Stassi Eldredge describe a woman as the crown of creation. They go on to explain why beauty matters. It matters because;

1. Beauty speaks. It speaks hope.
2. Beauty invites. It invites us to enjoy it.
3. Beauty nourishes. It offers life.
4. Beauty comforts. It soothes.
5. Beauty inspires. It inspires us to excel.
6. Beauty is transcendent. It makes us long for heaven.

I wonder how the world would be if more women invested as much time, effort and money on their inner beauty as they do on their outer beauty. Mother Teresa’s inner beauty continues to speak, to invite, to nourish, to comfort, to inspire and to transcendent many years after going home to be with the Father.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says “... we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

I am convinced that the effects of our inner beauty will last forever. Let us co-operate with Him as He conforms us to the image of Christ. It is worth eternity.

*kairos – is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (Wikipedia).

Determining God's heart for us...

noreply@blogger.com (Sarah Gerald) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:36:00 +0000

I went to the mall yesterday with my mom. We passed a newsstand that had two stacks of newspapers. One stack had a sign that said, “Good news, 50 cents.” The other stack had a sign that said, “Bad news, half a dollar.”

In a world where lies, deceit, unfaithfulness, discouragement, depression, and heartbreak run rampant, it is understandable why it is so difficult for us to truly grasp how immensely God loves us. Our hearts have been so desensitized to what true love is, we can hardly recognize it, and harder still, accept it when it is freely given. One of my favorite scriptures in the Bible is Ephesians 3:16-19:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

A close look as these verses could possibly equip us enough to faintly comprehend the incomprehensible love God has for us.

“Out of His glorious riches…” (God’s provision)

God has dominion over ALL! He possesses all. Everything was made by Him and for Him. If that wasn’t the case, we wouldn’t have Romans 8:28. God said He will work through all things for our good. God works though all for His glory. He uses all to bring His name the praise, not because He needs a self-esteem booster, but because of what happens when we praise God. God wants us to find Him because He knows that we need Him. When we praise Him, we are connected to Him. That’s why we praise Him in spirit and in truth, qualities He posseses. John 4:23-24 says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” When we connect ourselves to Him in spirit and in truth we then become connected to and have access to His glorious riches.

“Strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (God’s presence)

God doesn’t ask us to be strong, He asks us to rely on Him. II Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “But 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” God knows that we have limits to what we can do by ourselves. That’s why He wants us to rely on His infinite strength. Also, it is important to realize, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. If God asks us to do something that is already in our ability, then we lose sight of who is really in charge because all we have to do is depend on ourselves. But, how much greater and stronger is the testimony if God calls us to move mountains or lead His people, or preach to the nations because He knows we can’t do that on our own, but with His strength. Then, everyone will be drawn to Him because they see Him through the way we rely on Him.
The second part to this line is “through His spirit in your inner being.” God is ALWAYS with you. He sent the Holy Spirit to reside in us. John 17:23 says, “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Here, Jesus is praying before He is arrested. He declares that He will be in us just as God is in Him. How amazing is that? If we have the revelation of that state of being, then we really can have the faith that moves mountains.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God”

When you are rooted and established in the knowledge of how much you are loved, you will be unstoppable. Rooted, like an oak tree that doesn’t just have one root, but an intricate network of roots systematically searching for the nutrients needed to support its giant structure.
This mention of power alludes to the fact that the power does not come from you, but from the Spirit that is at work within you. We cannot grasp the immense love God has for us in our own ability. It takes God to love God. We can try to grasp His love by meditating on the fact that He gave from Himself, to bring us unto Himself. Even this won’t help you fully begin to understand.

Pursue God in a way that completely takes over who you think you are. Discover how much God loves you in a way that makes you forget about false pretenses, insecurities, fear, and doubt. Seek His beauty. Seek His love. Seek His presence. Seek His assurance. Seek what He wants for you. Seek how He sees you. Discover how to live in His will. Discover how to relate to Him. Discover how He speaks to you. Discover His presence. It’s not what you can do for God. It’s about realizing He’s worthy and giving yourself completely to Him. It is selfish of you to hold on to what you think is right or righteous or is the right decision for yourself. Your life is not your own in the first place so how can you hold on to descriptions about yourself that don’t come from God? He is the answer. His love is the answer. His love casts out fear. He is the only one.

_______________________
Sarah Gerald is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a future graduate of the Campus Harvest Academy for Student Evangelism. Her goal is to teach others about who God is even as she learns more and more about Him. She blogs at A Worshipful Heart in a Warring World.

100 Days of Prayer (29 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:29:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for women to make divine connections during the conference.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

PureLife Fashion Show Details

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:33:00 +0000

Hi ladies! Here's a reminder for those of you who are local and would like to participate in the fashion show. I'm including general details below and will forward you specifics if you email and let me know you're interested. Can't wait to see all of you beautiful women on stage! Here's what you need to know:

The fashion show will take place during the morning talk show on Saturday, the 25th at 10 and will last approximately 15 minutes. Expect to arrive early for hair and make-up.
The fashion show is being sponsored by Jennifer Durazzo of John Casablancas, and run by their promotions manager, Charity.
There will be 3 rehearsals: Friday, Sept. 3rd, Friday, Sept. 17th, and another date TBD during the week before the conference.
All meetings and rehearsals will take place at John Casablancas in Cary (601 Cascade Pointe Lane, Ste. 103)
We're looking for models of all ages, looks and sizes, so tell your friends! We also need pairs of best friends, mother/daughter and sisters, if possible. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
John Casablancas is also arranging a photo shoot for all of our models and will be handling hair and make-up, all at no charge to us!!
We are working to finalize the clothing sponsor.
If you have not officially signed up as a volunteer, please do so now by clicking this link.

Aug. 24th Email Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Here's a copy of our most recent eblast. If you're not receiving them, be sure to click the "Weekly PureLife Email Updates" button in our sidebar.

Special Guest: Chelsea Terwilliger

We are thrilled to have Chelsea Terwilliger joining us for our PureLife Live Talk Show on Saturday morning. You don't want to miss her remarkable testimony. Chelsea is a young woman with a message. It is a message of hope and redemptive love that touches the hearts of women in a transforming way. Her candid approach to the world in which we live and her firm conviction that every woman can live victoriously in it is inspirational. As she unfolds her personal story of tragedy and triumph you will laugh, cry and rejoice in the hope you find growing in your own heart. Chelsea resides in Jacksonville, FL with her husband Eric Terwilliger, who is Executive Pastor, and their daughter Madison. She served teenagers for 10 years as a youth minister and is now currently Creative Arts Director at Southpoint Community Church.

Register and Win an Amazing Gift

Every woman who registers is automatically entered to win TWO beautiful David Yurman bracelets provided by our sponsor, Fink's Jewelers and selected by Lynette Lewis just for you. Visit our blog for more details and register soon. This awesome gift could be yours!

You+1

Don't come to PureLife alone, bring a girlfriend (or two). When you register with a friend, you will both save $10 each. Visit the website and select the "You+1" option for more details.

Wednesday is Friendsday

We giveaway prizes EVERY WEEK online. Visit the PureLife blog or follow us on twitter for details. This week: one of two books by Holly Wagner!

On The PureLife Blog: "PureLife is For You if..." Stop by and leave a comment.

100 Days of Prayer (30 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for women to make the investment in PureLife.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

Register & Win

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:46:00 +0000

When we say we have great gifts for you, we mean it! Our sponsors have showered us with amazing surprises to share with you and we can't wait to see the look on your faces when you take them home.

A team-favorite is a special gift we received from our friends at Fink's Jewelers. Thanks to their generosity, one of you lovely ladies will walk away with these two beautiful David Yurman bracelets, which Lynette selected just for you (an $850 value!).

Winning is easy. All you have to do is register, and you're automatically entered to win!

The winner will be announced during the conference, and Fink's has also provided a very useful gift for everyone who attends. So, what are you waiting for? Register now and don't forget to bring a friend!

Click on the images for additional information on the bracelets. Special thanks to Fink's Jewelers of Southpoint for sponsoring PureLife 2010.

100 Days of Prayer (31 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for the safety of those driving to PureLife.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

100 Days of Prayer (32 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for a renewed sense of hope in our attendees.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

A Dream Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Karen Lane) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:00:00 +0000

When I was asked to throw in my $.02 on the PureLife blog, and found that one ot the topics is Live Your Dreams, I knew it was a no-brainer to introduce Eleatta Diver to the reading audience. Eleatta personifies the topic. So in order to give myself a creative challenge I have imposed a restriction upon myself. I will attempt to refrain from using any form of the word i-n-s-p-i-r-e in this post. This will be a feat something akin to playing the baby shower game in which you cannot utter the word c-u-t-e or you will have your tiny plastic clothespin mercilessly stripped from your lapel. The person with the most clothespins at the end is, of course, the winner. I actually fared pretty well the last time I played, but if you know Eleatta, you will know that this is the more daunting exploit. If I succeed you owe me a door prize of 6 ounces of dark chocolate - Valrhona 72% will be fine.

Eleatta had been a pastor's wife and home schooling mother of 5 for many years before she went back to teaching art in a private Christian school in Durham, NC. Her life was already plenty full and busy when she attended a meeting in which she was challenged by Lynette Lewis to put her talents to use and pursue the dreams God had placed in her. She began producing her own fresh, unique artwork, including two series which revolve around dreams.

The Dream Series is an ongoing series of paintings that are "parables in paint." They explore the stages of human hopes, dreams, aspirations and desires.

Durham Dreams is a body of work that consists of what Eleatta calls "Dream Portraits". Twelve individuals who have played a role in the rebuilding of the city of Durham over the last 15-20 years are being interviewed and asked their dream for Durham. Their dreams are being painted onto canvas, exhibited and sold with proceeds going to help fund economic relief to a needy area in Durham.

From Eleatta's mind:

Favorite quote -

Well, I'd have to say, "Better late than never!"

Favorite artist -

John Singer Sargent, Gustav Klimt

Best book you've read lately -

The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

Blogs you follow -

Seth Godin and Today's Creative Blog

What is your dream?

My dream is to use my art to inspire (ha! - thought you had me there didn't you, but I'm merely quoting) people to puruse their dreams.

How was that dream stirred up in you?

Lynette Lewis' powerful message.

How does the creative process work for you?

For me, a creative thought is like a living, moving thing. It has a life of its wn and as I allow it to move around from sketchbook to canvas, I always keep in mind that it is alive. I let it move and wiggle; I take care to watch it and care for it and let it have the air it needs to breathe. I allow it to morph and grow as it pleases.

One piece of advice or insight that changed your life-

Never stop learning, growing, and expanding yourself.

I recently saw this quote on Eleatta's facebook wall and thought it summed up her passion pretty well: "When I stand before God at the end of my life. I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything You gave me'." ~Erma Bombeck

Look for Eleatta's inspiring (oh, drat) work when you join us at PureLife 2010, and to see more, go to http://www.eleatta.com/ and http://www.eleatta.blogspot.com/.

__________________________________________
Karen Lane is a wife, mother, and lifestyle photographer in the Raleigh area and beyond. You can visit her on the web at Karen Lane Photography.

100 Days of Prayer (33 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:36:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for provision for our scholarship applicants.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

100 Days of Prayer (34 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:34:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for friendships to be restored.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

100 Days of Prayer (35 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:38:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for PureLife to go viral.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

Do You Believe in the Burger King God?

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Collie) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:21:00 +0000

When Life Shakes Things Up, Do You Believe in the Burger King God?

I’ve begun to notice a little pattern lately. And I’m aware that sometimes things we call “patterns” or “issues” are just plain old sin. But let’s speak kindly and just say pattern.

It seems that when life throws me a lemon, a curve ball, or some other metaphor for something other than what I wanted or expected, I begin to get shaken. When things get tough, I struggle. I lose my confidence, find my fear, and become afraid of what’s ahead. And more than anything I’ve realized I begin to lose confidence in the goodness of God.

What I realize when I finally wake up from sleepwalking into this pattern is that part of the reason my confidence gets shaken is because my confidence is in the wrong God. Or, it’s in the right God, but it’s in the right God that I believe the wrong things about. Take your pick.

You see, sometimes my confidence is in the Burger King God. Do you know Him? He says You can have it your way. My confidence is in the Nice ‘n Easy God. The one who fits in a simple little box and in just minutes will not only make my hair beautiful, in a nice and easy manner, but will magically make my whole life Nice. And Easy. But that’s not what the God the Bible talks about promises. He actually promises the opposite:

In this world, you will have tribulation. BUT, be of good cheer, I’ve overcome the world. (John 16:33)

The Bible also speaks of this God in this way: Please, please get in line with this people: taking into consideration the amazing mercies of God, let your whole self be a living sacrifice, set apart, and acceptable to God. With God’s sacrifice in mind, this is a totally reasonable act of service. (Romans 12:1, my paraphrase)

Carrying the cross isn’t as easy as coloring our hair or ordering a Whopper with fries. But in light of what Jesus has done for us (take some time to think about that), the crosses we carry are easy. The burdens are light. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, if we walk with God, the yoke is easy. The burden is light.

The next time life shakes you up, make sure you’re putting confidence in the God who works all things together for good -- not the (non-existent) God who makes everything easy and good all the time.

Let the shaking build your confidence, since it’s what was promised all along. And let the God who walks through the valley with you show you His goodness, right there in the valley, and lead you out to victory on the other side.

____________

100 Days of Prayer (36 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for our attendees to experience spirtual awakening.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

Hearing from Holly Wagner

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:07:00 +0000

We are more than honored to have Holly Wagner joining us. She is an amazing gift to the body of Christ, and we are so blessed to have her as the key note speaker for PureLife 2010.

Holly and her husband, Philip, are co-pastors of Oasis Christian Fellowship in Los Angeles. Through their women’s ministry, GodChicks, "Holly seeks to blow the lid off the boxes that women have sometimes put themselves in and encourages women to be the amazing, world-changing champions they were made to be."

If you haven't already visited our conference website, take a minute to go read Holly's bio. You'll discover that she is a gifted and experienced woman of God, with an amazing testimony and a wealth of wisdom to share with the women of PureLife. Take a moment to view the clip below or visit our YouTube channel for a few other favorites. Get ready to be blessed by Holly's ministry during the conference! PureLife, here we come...

Interested in reading one of Holly's great books? Enter our WednesDay is FriendsDay giveaway for a chance to WIN one!

100 Days of Prayer (37 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray against opposition.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

Wednesday is FriendsDay

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Tell us about special moments with a friend and you could win!

Every WednesDay is FriendsDay on the PureLife blog. You talk to us about friendship and we give you the chance to win great prizes! This week, we want to hear about some special moments you've shared with great friends! The Prize This Week: Your choice of Daily Steps for God Chicks: The 90-Day Devotional for Real Women by our keynote speaker, Holly Wagner or GodChicks and the Men They Love by Holly and Philip Wagner. Here's how to enter:

On Twitter

Follow @PureLife2010 and do any of the following:

Tweet about a special moment with a friend using the hashtag #PL2010
Tweet out an inspirational friendship quote using the hashtag #PL2010
Tweet a great photo of yourself and a friend with a cool tagline and the hashtag #PL2010

On FaceBook

Become a fan of PureLife2010 and do any of the following:

Post about a special moment with a friend on our wall.
Post an inspirational friendship quote on our wall.
Add a great photo of yourself and a friend with a cool caption describing the photo.

To enter right here on our blog
Become a follower or subscriber and do any of the following:

Leave a comment about a special moment with a friend
Leave a comment with an inspirational friendship quote
Email admin@purelifeconference.org a great photo of yourself and a friend with a cool caption

Enter as often as you'd like until NEXT WEDNESDAY at 12 a.m. Eastern. There's no need to leave a comment here with your tweets or facebook posts, we're logging those from TweetDeck. The winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on Wednesday. Tell a friend!!

100 Days of Prayer (38 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 05:17:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray that PureLife will be a refuge for souls.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.

100 Days of Prayer (39 Days Until PureLife)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 05:15:00 +0000

Thanks so much for joining us in prayer. Here is the next request:

Please pray for the businesses sponsoring and supporting PureLife.

View all of the 100 Days of Prayer Posts and if you'd like to receive them in your inbox, sign up for our email updates.