BETWEEN YOU AND ME

July 2007

Dear Friends

Can you believe that the middle of the year has gone? It seems absolutely incredible that the seventh month of the year is already upon us.

The positive feedback I have received about this being the year of perfect expectation is wonderful, amidst all the trials and hardship that the enemy is bringing on some of the most important ministries God has said, that this year is the year of PERFECT EXPECTATION!!!

What a privilege to serve our Lord, how very fortunate we are, it reminds me of the old gospel song…”without Him I would be nothing..”

I am really so excited and expectant for the 2008 International WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS CONFERENCE! Please with us that it will be more miraculous than ever before!

As you all know I am working in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre as a clinician at present and and happy to report that within 2 months I will be able to serve WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS in a full time capacity. Further I long to visit you this year, God is stirring such awesome words for the church and it would be such an honour to sit around the table and share with you.

“From Tears To Triumph” is dusted and raring to go…if God has changed your life from tears to triumph please send me your stories, if you will allow me to use your story please send me permission in writing saying you will allow me the freedom to use your story in my book. Names, places etc will be changed to protect your identity.

I further urgently need the stories of women who minister in any capacity and have been hurt by the church ….either by male leadership or by congregants who have tried to use the Word of God to suppress their ministries. This will be used for my Masters thesis entitled, “Women in Leadership”.

The most delightful poem was sent to me by one of George’s colleagues, I hope it blesses you as much as it blesses me:-

Dancing with God~

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I was drawn to "dance" at the end of the word. I reflected upon how doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes this and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw "G," I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i." "God, "u" and "i" dance." ! God, you, and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you and your family on this day and everyday. May you abide in Him as He abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards; so lets continue to pray for one another. I Hope You Dance !!!!!!!!!!!! ANON

Remember Jesus is coming soon and our God is not a respecter of persons. He is calling His handmaidens all around the world and telling them to “ARISE the winter is over” “Arise”.

You are very special and your friendship is very important to me, please remember to send me your testimonies if the ministry you have received from Women for the Nations has touched your heart in any way.

So to end with a last poem:-

The Broken Pot
By Julia Khoury

There was once a Potter who visited a shop.
The shop owner was very happy to have him there and wasted no time in showing him his most prized pots. They were indeed beautiful. Some had unusual designs or figures on them. “These are my best pots,” the shop owner proclaimed, proudly.
But the Potter shook his head. “They are very nice,” he said. “But this is not what I want.”
Perplexed, the shop owner led him to another shelf. “How about one of these?” he asked. “They are a bit chipped, but surely, they can be used for something…”

Again, the Potter shook his head. “This is not what I want.” Then, looking past the shop owner towards the back of the shop, he asked, “What about that one?”
The shop owner followed his gaze. “Oh, no, sir…you don’t want that pot. Can’t you see? It’s shattered. It’s useless.”
“Are all the pieces there?” the Potter asked.
The shop owner shrugged. “Well…yes.”
The Potter took a step towards the broken fragments.

“Why do you want that pot,” the shop owner asked, “When there are so many others here?”
A smile crossed the Potter’s face. “Because the strongest pots of all are the ones that have first been broken,” he answered.
And that night, with great care and gentleness, the Potter carried the broken pieces home and began his work.

Many, many weeks later, the king of all the land held a great feast for all his subjects. Both the Potter and the shop owner were present. They greeted one another warmly and talked for awhile. Then, the shop owner looked at one of the pots on the kings table. “It’s a beautiful pot,” he remarked. “But for some reason, it seems as if I’ve seen it before.”

“Do you remember a certain broken pot?” the Potter asked.
“Yes.” Then a look of shock passed the shop owner’s face as he looked again at the pot, the one he had seen no use for. He gave his head a shake, seeing with new eyes. “You don’t mean…that broken pot…?”

“Yes.” The Potter beamed. “That broken pot.”
Just like the broken pot, God can take our lives and make them into something beautiful, if we give Him all the pieces.

Please continue to keep my family in your prayers.
I am trusting for personal intercessors who will pray for my ministry, if you would like to be one of my faith sisters please let me know.
Further please could all you creative women pray and ask God to help you design a logo for the organization. I look forward to receiving all your dynamic ideas.

Looking forward to your letters ideas and testimonies.

Love and Hugs
Sharmaine


WOMEN FOR THE NATIONS

1 Cor 13

Women for the Nations is a ministry of Sharmaine Dobson Ministries and aims to be an interdenominational, international fellowship of women. The aim of Women for the Nations is to empower women to discover their purpose, realise their potential, become women of passion, being aware of who they are in Jesus Christ, having an intimate relationship with God, knowing Him in all His ways and having a mature understanding of the Word of God.

Women for the Nations further seeks to ensure that as women move out in their God given ministries they are fully equipped to reach out to a lost and dying world, full of needy people who are desperate for the love and understanding that they would need to become whole in Christ.

Women of the Nations aim to encourage women to build bridges of friendship across the many divides which challenge women of every nation, tribe and tongue.

Further it is our aim to provide solace and a safe harbour for hurting and discouraged women in ministry helping them to be restored and come to a place of wholeness in Christ.