Dear Sisters, I join with the Apostle Paul in His declaration: Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3

What an amazing variety of women you are! Some older, some younger, some just beginning in your ministry, others feeling like you would like to end! But God would like to join me in saying, Thank you. Thank you for staying the course, when you would rather have quit. For bearing the burdens of those around you, when you were having trouble bearing your own. For taking the time to understand when you were crying out to be understood. Thank you. Thank you for giving, when you needed to receive. Thank you for loving, when you needed to be loved. Thank you for caring when your heart ached to be cared for. He saw and says, Thank you, my daughter.

I would remind you that where you sowed, there you shall reap. I am watching. I am caring. I would remind you that you are never alone.

The battle rages, but you have stood. Perhaps you feel you have stood shaky, but still you stand. Perhaps you feel you had to stand “on your knees” if you will, but still you stand. The enemy of your soul would taunt you and make fun of you and say, “What a wimp”. You don’t deserve God’s blessing, look at you. But I want you to know that you are still standing and God is smiling. He is saying, “look at my daughter, she is still standing!” I am proud of her. She is an example of a vessel of honor. She brings me glory.

I hear some of you, lamenting, “Oh, that’s not me”. I am a whiner, I wanted to quit, I wanted to throw in the towel”. But, remember, Jesus, going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa, Father, you can—can’t you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want? Mark 14:35, 36 Message And that is how some of you have been. Wanting a way out, but accepting the fact that He said “No, my daughter, I want to take you through this trial, trust Me.” And, perhaps with not much glamour or glory, you bowed your heart, your will and your soul, and said, “Not what I want—but what you want, Lord”.

Such actions are such a blessing to Him, and soon this season will pass and blessing will come and you can shout, “Surely it has been worth it all."