Women of God: Will you help me help others? In an effort to start a worldwide conversation with "churched" women about how we relate to one another, I need your stories. I have my own, which of course, I will share, but I'd love to hear yours. If interested in being a voice for the countless voiceless women, sitting in silent pain, wearing well-practiced smiles, and bearing invisible wounds, please:
    1. Listen to January 21st VLOG: A Call to Freedom, located @ http://janellrardon.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/fresh-word-for-2012-the-call-of-freedom/.
    2. Read the "A Call for Stories" PDF in the box above.
    3. Review January 23 blog, "I Want a Woman," @ http://janellrardon.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/i-want-that-woman/
    4. When you have a few minutes, read my research, "A Voice for the Voiceless." Make note of the roots of oppression and Jesus' ministry of restoration with women.
    5. Write your story (follow the guidelines in the PDF) and send it to: janellrardon@me.com.
I am so ready for this project to birth. It's healthy to take a good long look in the mirror of self in hopes of healing the bride of Christ. She needs to be ready for Jesus, doesn't she? This is hard work, but healing the heart work. Awww, just taste the fruit of spiritual unity.

Any further questions, please feel free to contact me, janellrardon@me.com

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I've been called crazy, passionate, wild, and so much more, but that's ok! As I watched Chris Martin of Coldplay this morning (The Today Show), I thought, "Why can't I have a job where I can twirl, swirl, jump up and down, sing, dance, and make others forget their problems?" Right away, I thought of King David as he leapt and danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14), wearing only a linen ephod. To be accurate, it is recorded that he "danced with all his might."

I can't help but ask myself today, "When is the last time you did anything with all your might, Janell?" Might, or oz (Hebrew translation), meaning, "might, strength—material, physical, social, political, or political."

Yet another word comes to mind, as well: abandon. Two specific definitions rise to the top:

1. to give up the control of.
2. to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself)
   over to natural impulses, usually without self-control: to abandon oneself to grief.
   
   

This past weekend, I was privileged to speak to a great group of women in McPherson, KS.
Our topic: Just Imagine! With great joy, we discussed the possibilities of life.
Dreamed of "what if's" and "why not's" and "taking the lid off our lives."
As we opened our time together,
we read Ephesians 3:20:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Key: more than
More meaning, "beyond, over, in behalf of, for the sake of"

Our time together reminded each one of us that God, our Father, is on our side. He delights in doing "more than" in our lives. As we abandon every little aspect of our lives (giving up our false sense of CONTROL), God then has ROOM TO MOVE. That's it, my #2 in 52 Weeks, 52 Changes. I'm giving God ROOM TO MOVE in my life. What does that mean exactly? Simply:

• falling to my knees in complete surrender
• offering, with open hands, the day before me.
• trusting God to lead, guide, support, equip, and steward my time, talent, and treasures for HIS glory.
• believing for open doors, locked doors, and wisdom to know the difference.

I'm thinking giving God room to move is as scary as jumping out of a moving airplane from 15,000 ft. Scared doesn't even begin
to describe that moment when your feet are dangling over the edge of the plane. BUT, the end result was complete exhilaration at
doing something I couldn't imagine doing.

Will you join me in making room for God to move? We're in this together—tandem trusting God. Ready to jump. On the count of three . . .
One . . . Two . . . Three!

On Tuesday, October 11, I turned 52. In honor of this year, I'm starting an initiative in my life and perhaps it will inspire you, as well! Here is WEEK ONE: Focus on NOW, being an INFLUENCER now! Fresh Start Word: Isaiah 55:8,9.

Read from Acts 9-Acts 16:11-15, observing the conversion of Saul through the baptism of Lydia. It is amazing to see the strategic work of the Holy Spirit as he links person to place and place to person. At any given moment, someone can walk into our life and influence it in amazing ways. Just look and see. I'm listening between the lines and opening my heart to the power of the Holy Spirit today! Share your insights! Be a Divine Influencer.

Looking at 2 Corinthians 10:13 today. Are you under the influence?