We hope by now you have received your 30-Day Devotional Guide created by your Flourish Committee. If you haven't, we may not have a correct address for you. You can find a printable pdf version of the Devotional on our website www.theflourishconference.org or at www.cggcwomen.org. Over the next several months, we will be posting each devotional on our blog as well, helping us to celebrate this milestone throughout the year. Today's blog post is the introduction to the devotional guide. Enjoy!
INTRODUCTION
On behalf of the Flourish Committee, we welcome you! We’re elated that you would spend a portion of your day with us!
As many of you already know, the reason this 30-Day FLOURISH Devotional came into existence was due to the notorious COVID-19. In 2020, our world experienced the sweeping ramifications of a simultaneously deadly and mild virus. While our Women’s Ministries of the CGGC (Churches of God, General Conference) Denomination was fortunate to have held our annual Flourish Conference in-person for the 2020 year, we were disappointed to announce the decision to postpone our scheduled 2021 Conference until the following year.
Despite this past year, God is still present with us, still loving His children, and still moving and working in the hearts & lives of people all over the globe. And He continued to speak to our Flourish Committee. As we prayed over this decision to postpone, we asked Him, “How can we still shine His light of hope and joy? Surely our great God is not limited by, much less surprised by, the events of the world in 2020 or any other year for that matter. Use us.”
From those times of pouring out our hearts came the answer—create a Devotional for our ladies and anyone else who needs courage from the Lord. We’ve prayed over this labor of love and continue to pray for you, dear friends; many by name while others are prayed for by the Holy Spirit within us. Once you’ve completed these devotions, would you consider passing on the packet and/or sharing it with others on your social media sites? For our God is indeed a God of HOPE! Below are a few verses from the eighth chapter in the book of Hebrews. I encourage you to read the entire chapter to capture the depth and width of God’s rich words of hope.
24For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
28And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Blessings!
Lynn Kaufman, Director of The Flourish Conference
The Flourish Committee:
Nancy Scott, Jamie Welsh, Kathy Foor, Jenn Rodriquez,
Amy Wilt, Kelly DeVincent, Molly Weaver, Kathy Odegard
P.S. We can’t wait to gather together once again in Findlay, OH for this annual women’s weekend sponsored by the CGGC Women’s Ministries!