“Married & Lovin’ It”

Building a Rock Solid Marriage

March 12th-13th

Marriage Enrichment Conference, Lake Region H/S, Eagle Lake, FL

Topics:

• Why Are We So Different?

• Just Us Girls

• For Men Only

• Practical Parenting (break-out session)

• Constant Communication (break-out session)

• Any Quesions?

“Through God’s Word and real-life experiences,  This seminar is filled with laughter, discovery, and revelation, and equips couples to “let go of the little and embrace the luscious!”

$25 per couple (Due on or before March 7th)

(Includes dinner Friday evening & lunch on Saturday)

Schedule:

Friday, March 12th, 7:00-9:30pm

Saturday, March 14th, 9:00am-5:00pm

To register, for more information, or to sponsor a couple, contact us at brigette@brigettewagner.com or mail payment to PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883.

Join me tomorrow, January 7th, at 9:00 am on the Dottie Coffman Radio Show.

www.bigstickradio.com or  WIMO Radio 1300 AM

Topic:  People Pleasing Addiction

Are you a people pleaser?  If so, you won’t want to miss this time together!  Be sure to tune in and learn how you can be an overcomer!!

“Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over….”

We are still in need of 60 blankets and non-perishable foods for Thanksgiving Baskets.  If you can help, please contact our office at 863-294-1130.

If you would like to give a monitary donation, please go to our Mission page and issue a donation via PayPal OR mail a check payable to BWM to PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883-2232.

All donations are tax deductible.

Blessings to you and your family!

     “Special Blessings”

For the past 12 years, Step by Step Ministries has sponsored two children who live in Uganda in a home supported by Watoto Ministries.  They have become a special part of our lives.  We always look forward to receiving pictures and letters from our two children, James and Stella.   

Several years ago, James and Stella began signing their letters as “love your son” and “love your daughter”.  The first time I received letters signed in that manner, I cried and thanked God for giving us the opportunity to bless them and “plant seed” in their lives.  I also thanked God for the blessing these children have been in our lives…..receiving their letters, watching them grow, seeing their writing skills improve,  hearing about exciting things that happen in their lives, etc. 

I received a letter from James this week and thought you might enjoy sharing in our joy….

“How are you doing?  I hope you are very fine.  Thank you so much for sponsoring me.  I pray that the Lord may bless you.  I am in grade five and I hope in 2010 I will be in grade six.  My family and I are doing well.  We are going towards the end of the 2nd term.  We are going to have camp in this holiday on the 16th of August 2009.  The camp is going to end at the 23rd of August 2009.  I hope I will enjoy the camp.  I am so happy to be in Watoto because they are training me to be a future leader.  Let me tell you a very beautiful place and we have the best pineapples and bananas in the whole world.  We also have two seasons in Uganda.  We have the wet and dry season.  Send my greetings to every one.  May God bless you!  Love Your Son, James”

Please keep our kids in your prayers! 

Donations:

If you would like to make a donation to Step By Step Ministries, please click on the “Mission & Ministry Page” and scroll to the bottom for a PayPal link or mail a check payable to: Step by Step Ministries, PO Box 2232, Winter Haven, FL  33883.      

*All donations are tax deductible*

Brigette Wagner will be ministering through preaching and singing at New Hope Fellowship in Auburndale, FL, on Sunday, August 30th at 10:30am.  The church is located across from Gateway A/G, off of Berkely Rd.

I will be teaching a new series called “Destination Unknown:  Fulfilling Your Destiny In Christ”.  The six week series will begin on March 18th.  The classes will take place at Lake Region High School in Eagle Lake, FL.  If you live in that area, I invite you to join me for these classes.

Blessings,

Brigette

  

I remember as a teenager being an extreme perfectionist.  The high school I attended was only 2 blocks away from our house, but I was late almost everyday.  I wasn’t late because I overslept or “dilly-dallied” around.  I was late because it took me over 3 hours everyday to style my hair and put on my make-up.  I would get up at 5:00am, shower, style my hair, and put my make-up on.  Then, I would do it all over again(always a minimum of twice, sometimes three times) before going to school.

As the years went by, my “morning frenzy” settled down a little, my need to be “perfect” didn’t.  I NEVER went out of my house without makeup (for the record, I still don’t); I was always dressed to perfection (my motto being “it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed); and I always strived for people’s approval (I didn’t just want it….I NEEDED it!).

Thankfully, God is patient and merciful!  Through the years, He has helped me overcome in this area of my life.  I finally understand that I am “marvelously and wonderfully made” with a unique plan and purpose.  I believe His Word that tells me I am an overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony(Revelation 12:11).  I understand the Scripture in Proverbs that says, “The power of life and death are in the tongue.”

I also understand that the ONLY approval I need is HIS!

Each one of us has a choice:  To be a victim or a victor.  Some practical steps to overcoming self-image issues are:

• Renew Your Mind:  Find Scripture that supports God’s awesome plan and purpose for your life.
• Make a List:  List at least 5 things you like about yourself.  You CAN do this!  These things can be related to your personality, your looks, your talents, your giftings, etc.
• Affirm Yourself:  Look in the mirror every day for the next six weeks and tell yourself (aloud) the things that you wrote on your list.  Speak forth God’s Word over yourself and your family.
• Be You:  Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.  God didn’t clone you….He created you!  You are beautiful in His sight!

You may feel a little foolish when you first begin following these steps.  But if you’ll follow them diligently, over time, it will change your life!

You have a lot to be thankful for!  You were created to be victorous!

**Photo above taken from www.freefoto.com

  “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head”.  ~Psalm 3:3 

I love the commercial that has the tag-line “Wanta Get Away?”.  There was another one , years ago, with the tag line, “Calgon, Take Me Away!”.  Ever felt like that?

As a wife and mother of two girls (13 & 10 years old), I am a cook, a server, a housekeeper, a chauffeur, a doctor, a chaperone, a teacher (we homeschool), a preacher, a friend, a counselor, a fashion coordinator, a hair stylist, and a drill sargeant!

Many of you can relate to what I’m saying.  We go and do all the time and - as mothers should do – most often take care of everyone else before being concerned with our own needs or desires.  That’s not a bad thing, in and of itself; however, if we don’t take time to “stop and smell the roses” each and every day, we can easily get so caught up in “the doings” that we miss the beautiful gifts God gives us. 

I looked at my children this morning, sleeping peacefully, and thought to myself, “I wish I could take today and simply stay in my pj’s, turn the phones off, cuddle with my kids all day, and take a “mini-vacation” without ever leaving my home.  Truthfully, today is filled with so many commitments that I’m unable to that.  But it’s important to take those “mini-vacations” every once in a while. 

The great thing about those days – they cost you nothing but you gain so much!

As our children grow older, it’s not the money we spend on them that they’ll remember….It’s the time we spend with them that they’ll never forget!  As our marriages mature, it’s not the big house or the expensive cars that hold them together….It’s the time invested in becoming each other’s best friend that keeps us together “’til death do us part”.

Friends, it’s easy to pile too many things on your plate.  I am “the master piler”, so I completely understand how it happens.  But I want to encourage you today to “set the tone in your home”.  Teach your children the importance of family time by giving them your time.  Teach them the importance of forever marriages by investing time in yours.