Doretta’s Posts

{Online Book Study} Week Two Teaching

DorettaWritten by: Doretta Zinck

This week we will be studying chapters two and three.

Chapter 2 “Turning”

“…to Him…”

When hard times come we turn to friends, family, pastors, people we trust. While some turn to negative behaviour to console or sooth the pain, we all turn somewhere.

Our human response is to run for help, pull someone into the moment and talk until we figure out what to do. But, brothers and sisters, we are a new creation with a new nature, therefore there is a new way and it’s to” turn unto Him”. Make no mistake, there are times that seeking counsel is absolutely necessary and talking with someone you trust with wise and godly counsel is healthy. In the early moments of the struggle, or in the newness of the pain, could we stop, turn and fix our full attention on Him? That is what Priscilla is asking in this chapter.

In setting your focus, you’ll find a place where it’s just you and God. A place where you’ll learn to hear from Him before you take the advice or counsel of others. We pray and read the Word of God to learn the character of God, to know the One who has the answers along with the strategies we need to thrive. In His strength and with His leading we begin to hear His Voice. This discipline takes time to develop into our “go to” strategy, so go easy on yourself. Practice this with smaller issues in your life; it’s like developing a new muscle in our spiritual fitness. Remember, you’re turning to the Father who loves you and is waiting to help.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Think about a difficult time in your life. Who did you turn to, and why?
  2. Did you turn to a negative behaviour?
  3. Could you have stopped and talked to God about it first?

 

Chapter 3 “Truth”

“…who is able to do…”

Don’t we have the most beautiful music ringing from the rafters of our churches these days? Such powerful words, declaring Gods sovereignty, His goodness and His amazing provision, aren’t they?

So why don’t we believe the truth of these declarations in our everyday life? When the time comes to believe that He’s a good, good Father and that we truly are loved by Him, why is it we wander around in a panic looking for solution in human ability? Recognizing God’s sovereignty is yielding our agenda to Him. It’s not that God isn’t able to bring solution but it’s trusting in Him with the timing and end results, because He is God, and He is everywhere, all knowing, all powerful.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do you believe that God is more than able?
  2. Do you wonder if this truth is for everyone but not for you?
  3. Have you been through a time where God proved to you that He is able?

{Online Book Study} Week One Teaching

DorettaWritten by: Doretta Zinck

This week we will be discussing both the introduction and chapter one.

Introduction

The “its” that should bind us.

What is it about humans that we always want to appear perfect? Life, family, work, we want everyone to see us as if we’ve got it all together. Is it judgement or criticism we fear? We load our social media and our conversations with the happy shiny pictures and comments. A very one dimensional life, isn’t it? We all know it’s all the aspects of our life, good and bad, that make us a whole person. We are all living the same human experience so let’s get real!

I believe that if we shared our testimonies in a genuine way, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable as we honestly share about our struggles, that walls would come down and God’s power and glory would be seen like never before. If we told the real story, without cleaning it up, the raw power of how God was with us, healed us, delivered us, would be BRILLANT INDEED!

You see, it’s our struggles – the “its” (lol) as Priscilla puts it – that should connect us and not the pretence of perfection. And just maybe the power that’s in the struggle would be lessened as we humble our hearts. What a powerful tool to give our children or to reach hurting people, the ability to be vulnerable!

2 Chronicles 7:14; “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. What’s your “it”?
  2. How are you managing this struggle in your life?
  3. Do you find yourself believing the lie that you’re the only one with an “it”?

Chapter 1: “Time”

“Now…”

Oh boy…here’s where I fall down…focusing on “now”.

I have found that the self control it takes for me to focus on “now” is great. I don’t know about you but my mind, most days, is in a “Martha state” in the doing, (I might add, Martha gets a bad rap, Jesus never said what she was concerned with was wrong, He just wanted her full attention) and as a result I’ve developed a “what comes next” mindset. Does mothering or running a home or business do that to us? Maybe, but God asks us to focus on…Him…Now .

If we stop and focus on our struggles, our fear is that our “it” might catch up with us forcing us to deal with it. So much easier to live with the cycle of how our sin rises and settles in our everyday, isn’t it? We have to deal NOW with the very thing that steals our focus from Jesus; our pain, our sorrow or yes, our sin. If we identify this cycle we can break it and start to change our thinking and behaviour which will eventually leads to freedom. Is it hard? Absolutely! Getting real and getting real NOW is beyond what we can do in our own ability. Thankfully we are not alone.

Priscilla recalls the apostle Paul in prison, in what seemed to be the darkest of “NOW” situations, singing praise and worship to God. He sings a prison doxology. WOW!

To believe beyond your circumstance that God is able to deliver, heal, or equip for whatever comes your way, like Paul did, will take faith. It may not be a cell with metal bar, but anything that keeps you from the freedom to live as God intends is indeed a prison.

Don’t put it off. Now is the time.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What keeps you from coming to God right NOW?
  2. What might you life look like if this “it” was no longer there?

How Does An Online Book Study Work?

I have received multiple inquiries this week as we approach the start of our Online Summer Book Study on how a book study like this actually works.

I hope these FAQ’s will help with your questions 🙂

Q: Do I need to commit to certain times?
A: No. Our study is crafted in a way that leaves room for flexibility. We understand that not everyone is available at the same time of the day and we also recognize that most people have a certain time of day that works best for them when working on their spiritual growth (…and maybe even a special place in which to do it in.) We want to encourage you to read the book, participate in discussions and journal any thoughts or revelations that you may have at a time that works best for you.

Q: What do I need in order to participate?
A: You will need the book God Is Able by Priscilla Shirer, the internet and a device to acquire our daily online study material (found on our website: weareHisdaughters.com), paper & a pen (for note taking) and a heart that desires spiritual growth.

Q: What are the fees for the Online Book Study?
We are happy to offer you participation in our study at no cost. FREE.

Q: It seems like a lot? What if I fall behind?
A: One of the beautiful things about a study like this is that you can choose to participate in whatever you wish. There will be discussion questions for you to participate in every day right on the website— you can join in whenever you wish, or not at all. There will be some extra fun things in our study group (on Facebook) during the week and we encourage you to join in and make some new friends and get to know the other ladies doing the study— but it is not required. And we have divided the book up into six sections to make studying more manageable for time.

Q: So…how exactly does it work?
A: Every Monday morning at weareHisdaughters.com (our website) there will be a teaching post from our Director of Online Book Studies; Doretta Zinck. It is here that Doretta will highlight the week’s reading schedule as well as key points to remember from the chapter(s) being covered. Doretta will also have a few discussion questions at the end of her post to start some dialog within our online community of ladies. Tuesday-Sunday, our regular writers will also be sharing thoughts on that week’s readings and will pose an additional question for contemplation and discussion at the end of their post. In addition to our weekly readings we have a private Facebook study group (https://www.facebook.com/Summeronlinebookstudy/?fref=ts) where we will socialize and nurture friendships by means of icebreakers, discussion questions, worshipping together and praying together, to name a few.

I hope that this email helps you better understand what our summer together will look like! If you haven’t signed up for our study yet, I encourage you to do so!

Much love,
Mandy Lawrence-Hill
for Team WAHD

 

**CLICK IMAGE TO REGISTER**

{Sisterhood Sunday} An Interview with Doretta Zinck

Happy Sunday!

Cindy1It’s Cindy here.

It’s time to meet Doretta Zinck our director of Online Book Studies here at We Are His Daughters! You don’t want to miss this interview! Wisdom and encouragement just pours from this lovely lady! She has lead us through one amazing book study already and we are so excited for her to lead our upcoming summer study, God is Able also by Priscilla Shirer. So glad to ‘meet’ with you Doretta!! And congratulations on the birth of your first grandchild; a beautiful baby girl!!

 

Click HERE to watch the interview!

 

 

 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!

Good afternoon, friends!

We are anxiously awaiting the launch of our summer Online Book Study, God Is Able by Priscilla Shirer. Registration is now open so feel free to sign up at any time!

Click image for registration form!

***CLICK IMAGE TO REGISTER!!!!!***

During this study you will also have an opportunity to be a part of a community with the other women who are participating in this study along with you– women from all around the world. The sign up for that community group will be posted within the next couple of weeks.

What you will need:

God Is Able (book), a pen, a notebook, a wifi connection (for accessing the study thoughts and discussion), and an open heart to see the amazing God we serve in new and fresh ways!

We hope that you will plan on journeying with us this summer on a quest to grow deeper spiritually.

Much love,

Doretta, Mandy, Cindy, Julie, Melissa, Megan, Ashley, Christianne, Nathan & Phil

{Conversations with Cindy} Making Known the Unthinkable

cindyWritten by: Cindy Morrone with Emily Pelley

“I began to learn about human trafficking here at home and the extent to which it was happening all around us. Through the RCMP, I learned that the average age of recruitment into the sex trade was 12 years old, and traffickers often target the more vulnerable young people in our communities. I knew that my work and energies up to this point had set me up to engage in this problem.” — Emily Pelley

Thank you so much for joining us today! As we continue the series of Living The Dream it is our hope that as you read Emily’s post that you may be encouraged to raise awareness of social injustices brought to your attention.

Cindy : Please introduce yourself, Emily, we would love to get to know you better.

Emily: My name is Emily Pelley. I currently live in Halifax, NS with my Husband, Travis. We are expecting our first baby in June, so our family is gearing up for some exciting changes this year! I was born and raised here in Nova Scotia, and I have a very supportive, God-fearing family around me.

Cindy: Emily, what God-given passions do you have?

Emily: Ever since I was young, I have had a passion to help people who were in need. Growing up in a church where missions was a priority really fostered this global awareness and I found myself being drawn to people and causes where I could be useful. I have a strong conviction that the life God has given me is not simply meant for me to enjoy, but to take what I have been given and apply it to make a difference. In university, I studied international development and have been fortunate enough to travel and serve people in many parts of the world.

Cindy: When did you realize these were passions that you needed to act on?

Emily: In the last few years, God has really turned my heart toward my own country, and particularly my city of Halifax. I began to learn about human trafficking here at home and the extent to which it was happening all around us. Through the RCMP, I learned that the average age of recruitment into the sex trade was 12 years old, and traffickers often target the more vulnerable young people in our communities. I knew that my work and energies up to this point had set me up to engage in this problem.

Cindy: Please share with our readers what you have done with these passions.

Emily: My first step was to find ways to raise awareness about this problem. Myself and a group of friends started a social justice network through our university church to help educate people about this problem. Human trafficking is getting more attention in our media lately, and many churches and individuals are beginning to ask what they can do. In 2015, I had the opportunity to do a Tedx Talk about Human Trafficking in Canada (see link). It was rewarding to have the chance to reach more people with this important information. I have been involved in different initiatives across the city. In October 2015, I chaired an event through World Vision Canada called Inspire Justice Halifax, which brought people from across the Maritimes together to talk about the social justice issues our communities were facing and how people were responding. I have also been a part of an initiative through Open Door Women’s Care Centre that is working to develop a response program for victims and for those at risk of being trafficked. I am eager for what the future will bring and how God will use me.

Cindy: You have received the 2015 Red Cross Young Humanitarian Award of the Year! Congratulations! What are your thoughts about receiving this award?

Emily: At first, I was a bit embarrassed. I’m not used to receiving that kind of attention, and I almost felt guilty that I was being recognized among the amazing people I work with in this city who serve so faithfully. But by receiving this award, I was given a larger platform for raising awareness about human trafficking in our city as well as promoting the positive engagement of young people in serving their communities. I am deeply honoured to have received this award, and my prayer is that it will serve to encourage other young people that they can make a difference where they are working. And all the glory goes to God.

Cindy: Please speak to those readers who may be very passionate about a social injustice but do not know how to become involved in making a difference.

Emily: The questions I am often asked are, what can I do? How can I be involved in social justice?
I feel like I often disappoint with my answer because there is no one, clear path to follow. What it requires is eyes to see where you are living, working, learning, etc, and asking- what is in my hand to do today? What am I passionate about? What moves my heart? How can I contribute to positive change? Then we just have to be willing to do whatever is needed. God is so faithful to take our obedience and use it to make a greater impact then we could have imagined. The key is to be willing, to be committed, and to trust Him.
Spoken word- “Don’t let it in“

Cindy: Emily, thank you so very much for sharing with us! We so appreciate you! It is my prayer that we all will be encouraged to look around and see the need. And in faith, be willing to do whatever God has called us to do! Have a look at the links Emily has included, believe me you don’t want to miss them!!!

Emily_PortraitEmily Pelley (nee. Zinck) is a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary program at Dalhousie University, doing research on refugee children and youth affected by armed conflict. She is also a researcher with the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldier’s Initiative. Emily is passionate about the fight against human trafficking and she has used any avenues that come her way to raise awareness and mobilize people to stand up to this injustice. She is also actively involved in her church and has volunteered in many different community groups organizations, including the Canadian Red Cross, Teachers Without Borders, Dubai Women’s College, Shiloh University Church, and Networks for Change. Emily lives with her husband, Travis, in Halifax, NS.

{Mother’s Week} Dandelion Bouquets & Chocolaty Kisses

DorettaWritten by: Doretta Zinck

Mother’s day this year takes on a different spin for me as this June I’ll be a grandmother for the first time!! When I stop and think about my “baby” having her own baby, I have mixed emotions. Of course I’m absolutely “over-the-moon” excited to meet, and love the cheeks off, this new family member. Yet as I look ahead with anticipation I find my mind flooded with memories of nursery school, tea parties and airport goodbyes, of dandelion bouquets and chocolaty- faced kisses. Years of building and investing, all the while wondering if we were doing anything right.

I realize that words and behaviours of family, friends and colleagues will have an impact on her confidence as a mother. As our firstborn embraces the new challenge of motherhood, I pray that the women around her will love her enough to support her, encourage her. But I also pray earnestly that the women in her life will give her room to fail and to learn from her mistakes without harsh judgement. In the world we are living in, today, we need the support of Christian sisters to be healthy and strong like never before. I pray that she is ever-mindful of the unfruitful mindset of comparison by being herself and owning her own strategies for mothering. But most of all I pray that she will lean on God like never before, and find that He is a very present help in times of trouble, doubt and feelings of inadequacy.

I love reading of Old Testament culture, where the women carved out a place in history by being strong with seemingly unwavering faith in God. Psalm 145:4 reads “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” (ESV). Grandmothers were more than babysitters and dress buyer (although both are lovely), having a greater role in teaching the next generation about God. Stories of great faith, miracles and a clear identity passed down from ancestors that went before them.
As our grandchild to-be develops in the womb God is also developing in me the heart of a grandmother.

My role now for my child is to support and reinforce her mothering, even when it looks different than mine. To talk open and honestly, hoping she can learn from my mistakes. “Teach what you’ve seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.” (Deut 4:9, MSG). I’m the one who will remind her that while being a mom is a high calling, that she is more than a mother, a part of God’s plan to love the world around her. My confidence in her is great, but in God greater still! I believe that He will do as He promises; I believe that He sees and hears, and am absolutely certain that in Him she will never be alone.

I thank God for the dandelion bouquets and chocolaty- faced kisses of yesterday, and the ones to come – very soon!!

WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!!!!!

 

Good morning, sweet friends!

Many of you journeyed with us for our very first Online Book Study: Fervent by Priscilla Shirer, at the beginning of this year. We so enjoyed getting to know y’all through that journey and are incredibly excited to announce that we will be doing ANOTHER Online Book Study!

Check out this brief video announcement. 🙂

We will have more details for you soon, such as: when and where to register, etc. We hope you will join us!

If you plan to be with us for our Summer 2016 Book Study, would you kindly add a comment to this post saying “I’m in.”

Have a WONDERFUL Sunday, friends!

Team WAHD

 

{Faith} Trust Is Not A “Warm Fuzzy Feeling.”

imageWritten by: Doretta Zinck

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 NIV

As I grow older, I am learning that trust is not a pleasant or warm fuzzy feeling. It’s that sick, often panicked feeling, that causes us to stop breathing or thinking straight.

Life’s uncertainty sets us up to look trust straight in the eye and determine that in this moment there is a choice; a pivotal point when you either tighten your fists and your heart or you release both and embrace the comfort and assurance that only our trustworthy God can give. I can’t explain this place because it’s not of this world.

I now know that the trust we talk about is merely hope on our part; hope that we would be able to walk what we talk. Trust is learned in the pain and struggle. When life gets nuts and there’s nowhere to turn, trusting can literally take you a step closer towards the Savior. It leaves scars that we can point to and say, I have learned to trust and the journey was hard. It was against my nature and not in my happiness plan. It is not the easy, flip action we so casually sing about. All I know is when I come to the end of my human reasoning and strategies my wonderful caring savior takes over and rescues me. It is usually not in the way I had in mind but, like a soothing salve on a burn, His plan brings peace, order, and eventually healing. Then as life goes on, something pops up, catches my attention, and my heart and the process starts all over again.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 NIV

Trust is beautiful pain that births a deeper dependence on an ever-present, trustworthy God.

{Fervent: Online Book Study} Week Six Teaching.

Written by: Doretta Zinck

This week we will be studying: Strategies Nine and Ten.

Your Hurts: Turning bitterness into forgiveness.

I have been hurt and misrepresented many times in my fifty-four years and if I don’t clean my heart every day, each and every hurt comes rushing back in vivid colour and exaggerated detail that is greater than anything they can do at Disney :). Only when we identify our own brokenness can we start to understand the brokenness of others.

I read once that it is humanly impossible to forget, unless the brain is damaged by sickness or injury. We are simply unable to forget. Wrap that in human emotion and “to forgive and forget” is even more unrealistic in our own strength. How beautiful then is this: We must rely on the power of our God to forgive people. He takes it out of our hands, for it’s not by our might or by our power but by His Spirit alone that we can forgive those who hurt us – not to excuse them or to say that what they did was ok, but to set ourselves wonderfully free from the toll it takes on us when we don’t forgive.

The whole principle of forgiving others in order to be forgiven ourselves is easy to ignore when in the depths of pain and hurt.

Let’s remember the cross. Nothing more unjust and undeserving then Jesus dying for our sin but here it is, forgiveness lived out.

Your Relationships: Unity in common cause.

My life song has become “Sisterhood”, the power and strength that comes when we stand together as sisters in Christ as we love God and others as ourselves. This cause, this calling, can be no clearer than in the body of the church. We sing the song “they’ll know we are Christians by our love” yet the enemy drives wedges between us, using our jealousy and envy to create division and discord between us. I like how Priscilla puts it – “friendly fire”. He knows if he can break the unity we have, he can render us ineffective in our churches and our communities.

Let’s be women who guard our unity, praying specifically for our oneness – which, by the way, is not a suggestion but a command. We are in this together, and together we are an unstoppable force.

Know yourself, know your enemy and know our cause. Reflect God’s Character to a lost and desperate world, looking for answers of hope and love. Tell people there is a God that loves them and a company of people who will support them!

Conclusion: Now what?

If you’re anything like me, you’re likely freaking out right now. Be encouraged! You can do this! If reading this book and more importantly applying the scripture that it’s based on rekindles a hunger for a closer walk with God then you are already walking in the right direction. Forget all the stuff you’ve heard and be free to design your prayer life to be wonderfully and distinctly yours!!! When we get this, our devotional time flies out of the church box we’ve placed it in and begins to live with no boundaries, no limitations. Don’t limit yourself to kneeling on hardwood floors and church pews but let your heart create true relationship that is bigger in its experience.

In walks and conversations, painting and poetry, stillness and dancing! Pray strategically, intentionally and deliberately, but most of all pray because He promises to hear us, forgive us and know us.

I’ll close with the same portion of scripture Priscilla used…

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.” Amen (Jude 24:25)

Going Deeper:
Remember, for every question answered in the comment section below you will be entered into our draw for that fantastic prize package at the end of the study!!

1. Do you have a healthy relationship with other women in your life?
2. Are you setting yourself up for success in your prayer life?
3. Have you come out of this study encouraged?