Good morning, Friends!
Today I’ve invited a guest blogger to share with you. Pastor Gayelee Reynolds of Carlsbad Christian Assembly wrote a poem titled “The Intentional Woman” for her church’s recent women’s retreat. As many of you know, the Women’s Ministries of the Assemblies of God chose The Intentional Woman as their 2009 theme. Check out their great website at http://womensministriesunlimited.ag.org. 
Read, reflect on and enjoy Gayelee’s message!
The Intentional Woman
By: Gayelee Reynolds
God’s Intentional Woman–
Running to and fro
Looking over every detail
Wondering where to go
Making plans and keeping journals
Trying to be her best
Wondering if it’s really worth it
As she’s put through every test.
She makes her goals and has her dreams
And shares them with her sister
Then thoughts and doubts come crashing in
As her hands begin to blister.
See this Intentional Woman
Started with great and exciting goals
Then the test of greatness began to press her
and she slowly began to fold.
The days go by and the goals seem dimmer
As guilt rises in her gut,
“What was I thinking to dream such dreams?
I must have been going nuts.”
She stops and looks and surveys her life
As depression settles in,
“Where have my dreams and desires gone?
They’ve slowly grown so dim.”
She takes a deep breath
And cries to her Master,
“Forgive me for I have sinned;
I’ve forgotten the dreams and desires you gave me
And traded them in for a friend.”
“I am your Intentional Woman
You’ve made me with such great care
To dream. To aspire. To reach for my goals
And to live my life–should I dare.”
© 2009 Gayelee Reynolds
http://www.carlsbadassembly.com
Pastor Gayelee serves as our Youth Pastor and ministers to our young people in grades 6-12. More affectionately known as, “Momma G” to our youth, she brings a unique and refreshing energy and perspective to the youth ministry. Anyone who knows Pastor Gayelee, knows that she loves to laugh. Her passion is for the youth of today to become totally sold out for Christ in every area of their lives, impacting others by the life they live. She and her husband, Bill, have two daughters: Angela and Morgan.
Check out our Intentional Woman website at http://www.intentionalwoman.org
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great word shared in such a beautiful way! Thanks, Joan, for your continued positive perspective on life. And thanks for allowing your guest blogger to share hers. I am re-encouraged to keep following God’s dreams for my life. Have a wonderful day in Him.
Hi Karyn,
Thanks for you affirming comments. I’m smiling here as I read your statement “I am re-encouraged to keep following God’s dreams for my life.”
BEA-U-TI-FUL!!! So real, Gayelee!
I received this book at our district training (aka F.U.E.L.) for Women’s Ministries January of 2009. My Pastor’s wife, Diane Anderson, saw how much I wanted it and gave it to me . . . It CHANGED my life in such an awesome and powerful way! We asked Gayelee to be our guest speaker at our, “Intentional Woman Retreat” this past September making reference to this book. It was awesome to see how God had already prepared everyone’s heart for that weekend and it’s awesome to see how the ladies of CrossRoads, Temecula are moving forward, living life, intentionally!
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your encouraging comments. I’m sure the IW Retreat with Gayelee was a great and God-blessed time of inspiration and interaction.
It’s wonderful that the women of CrossRoads, Temecula are “moving forward, living life intentionally!
BTW, sometimes obstacles like negative self-talk, procrastination, people-pleasing, fear/anxiety and perfectionism come up as women seek to live intentionally. That’s why I wrote The Relief of Imperfection and it is a great follow-up book to IW. It has what I call “Relief Guides” to help with group work. You might wish to check it out for a future study.
Thanks again for taking the time to write.
Relief blessings,
Joan
Wow, what a small world!
Joan, I found your site from your book-blog tour stop at Heather’s blog (11/2). I happened to move from Carlsbad, CA to Phoenix in spring 2008. I still consider the small town my home as I have yet to settle in to the Arizona life.
Gayelee, what passion, life, and love you share through your words. It’s just incredible! My goal for 2009 has been to lead an intentional life through reorganizing (and scaping some of) my priorities. I look forward to reading through the WMU site.
Allie