Whew, I didn't break out in hives.

I can hardly believe the LIVE webinar went off without a hitch. I didn't break out in hives, the dogs didn't attack the UPS man and Mitt Romney didn't call, not even once.

The webinar went a bit longer than I had hoped for and of course I have a million more things I wish I would have said, and why did I make that funny face so often and good gravy what was going on with my hair?

But here you go, if you've been thinking about starting Praise and Coffee Nights this video shares the heart of them with you.

The ladies that attended were truly a delight. I wish they had all been here in my kitchen. I would have baked them something fattening and yummy.

Here are the links for the Ebook:

And webinar:

This is a fresh approach to women's ministry. Sharing conversations that matter as REAL women with real hurts, joys and trials.

• No agendas, just relationships.
• Gathering 3-12 women together, facilitating conversation and allowing God to intervene.
• Based on Matthew 18:20, when 2 or 3 gather in His name, He comes.
• Meeting outside the four walls of the church with women from all backgrounds, churches (or no church) and walks of life.
• Sharing life.

And this is me. Watch the webinar, you'll understand.

Thank you Denise for all the behind the scenes stuff that you did while sitting in my dining room all alone, I really should have baked you something. I love you to pieces.


Have a great weekend!!!!
Sue

PS: I almost forgot...if you would like to join in with women all over the nation world starting Praise and Coffee Nights on March 15th, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/susankcramer#!/events/290042004382067/

A Fresh Approach to Womens Ministry

Edited to add:
If you missed the webinar, the info is here:
http://www.praiseandcoffee.blogspot.com/2012/01/whew-i-didnt-break-out-in-hives.html 

Ok girls, I’m scared and excited and nervous and overwhelmed all at once. Yes, I need to lay off the caffeine but this really is BIG news.

We are hosting our first ever Praise and Coffee webinar. We will be helping to train and equip women from all over the nation world to host Praise and Coffee Nights.

No airplane tickets or hotel reservations needed...in fact, you don't have to brush your hair or get out of your jammies for this! Although, I will be on video, so I'll try to freshen up so as not to frighten you.

The interest in hosting a Praise and Coffee Night has been growing and women want to know the what, when, where and how’s of starting them. So if you are interested, jump in on our online webinar this Thursday at 1:00 PM EST. No commitment necessary, lookey-loo’s are more than welcome.

RSVP here: (or leave a comment on this post). https://www.facebook.com/susankcramer#!/events/231394873604052/

Praise and Coffee Nights are a fresh approach to women’s ministry. The fresh-ness is that we’re not looking to create a mega-ministry, but instead create a movement. Real women meeting in small groups at cafés and kitchen tables, connecting-encouraging-and inspiring one another.

You don’t have to be a minister’s wife or even part of your church ministry team…we want every day REAL women to start with the influence that God has already given them and take it one step further. Invite 3 or more (we like to keep it under 12) women out to a coffee shop or over for a cup of coffee and some encouragement. Note: Coffee is not actually required :)

This is NOT your Momma’s Bible study group, this is girlfriend time with the only agenda being connect-encourage-inspire. Share life, and watch how God intervenes.

Matt. 18:20 says that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He comes. I love that! And honestly, I desperately need that. I don’t know what I would do without the girlfriends in my life that have been Jesus’ heart to me.

Do that Bible study, memorize that scripture! But also connect with women in a relational way that deepens your life and gets us out of the four walls of the church and into the world that God put in front of us.

To join us for the online webinar, click this link on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 1:00 PM (if you miss it, we are recording, I’ll add the link to watch it when it’s available):

https://connectpro19068335.adobeconnect.com/_a1007933682/praiseandcoffee/

Enter as a guest and type in your name! It’s that easy. You can chat with other women who have already started them and many who are about to start.

We also want to invite you to start your first Praise and Coffee Night with us on March 15th with women all across the world.

That info can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/susankcramer#!/events/290042004382067/

Use the comments for any questions or drop me an email! I can’t wait to hear from you.

OH! I almost forgot!! During the webinar we will be giving away TWO...yes 2 SIGNED, yes signed copies of Lysa TerKeurst's new Made to Crave devotional!

And...because we love you...TWO...yes 2 SIGNED, yes signed copies of Mary Snyder's new book too!

Hope to hear from you!!
Sue

PS: Local friends, here is a link to the training I'll be doing at my house in February:
https://www.facebook.com/susankcramer#!/events/214266648657988/ 

A Victoria's Secret Model or a Proverbs 31 Woman?

Have you seen the Live 31 campaign?

It’s blanketing the internet on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere; here is how their website says it began:

“Live 31 began on November 30, 2011 with a simple status update, “I’d rather have a Proverbs 31 woman than a Victoria’s Secret model.” Throughout the night, this status was reposted numerous times. As the status spread, we saw there was need for more action. We started with a Facebook page saying the same thing as our status updates. With mixed receptions of our message, we decided to post a video. Our founder, Alex Eklund, clarified our message, and we started to grow. In 3 days, we received over 120,000 views on youtube, and our Facebook page grew to over 7,000 likes.”

Basically it’s five freshmen guys from Baylor University wanting to change the way society looks at beauty. Clothing line and merchandise will be available soon to help this happen. *clearing throat*

Here is a link to the video that is getting most of the attention:

Live 31

I believe this guy is serious (and a serious entrepreneur) and I do applaud his stand against the sexist way that women are treated and how beauty has been falsely portrayed as something to be seen and not experience within.

But, honestly this whole Live 31 campaign has been troubling to me from the beginning. I’m afraid it puts the sense in a woman’s head that she feels she must live up to either a Victoria Secret model OR all the characteristics of the busy Proverbs 31 woman.
God has uniquely created each and every one of us to know Him and be beautiful in the life that He gave to us. Not all of us will be wives, mothers or work outside the home as the Proverbs 31 woman did. And some supermodels will know Jesus and love Him with all their heart and be wonderful wives and mothers.

Unfortunately I've spent a lot of time lately with women who are struggling under the weight of performance. Trying to be such a Godly woman, wife and mom that they are missing the whole point of being a Godly woman...the relationship with God. With the help of church leaders they've taken on a burden to perform that God never gave them. Running around trying to do it all and yet they're dry and thirsty on the inside desperately needing a time of refreshing that can only be found in a one on one relationship with their heavenly Father.

A Godly woman is one who has her hope in God and knows she’s loved by the One who created her and shows that confidence in all she does by living loved and loving others. Sadly I think that the whole point of Proverbs 31 gets lost in the middle of the chapter with all the "doing."

Proverbs 31:30:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

Start there...with fear (honor and respect) for God, and watch what He does with your life.

I made this a few years ago when I had written a few posts on women in leadership.

Whether a woman is walking a runway or busily spinning her wool and flax or doing neither, she is beautiful and loved by God exactly the way she is. When she yields her life to God, He will bring her on a journey to take care of the outside stuff that needs to change and heal whatevers hurting on the inside in the process.

Here's a link to another article that I read yesterday on the subject:
J Bryant Writes

I'd love to hear your thoughts...

The Summer Praise and Coffee Magazine!

The Summer 2011 issue is published!

Again, I am so touched by the stories of women who walked through the hard times and clung to the God who loves them.

From a mother who saw her daughter engulfed in flames.

To a wife who while working in the mission fields of Africa only to find that her husband had been cheating on her. That same husband working side by side with her to help aids victims.

And the mom who faced the painful fact that maybe there was more to the story when her young son didn't make eye contact with anyone else. Maybe he was autistic.

All the while God is bringing comfort and healing in the midst of these painful trials. And eventually these wonderful women find a reason to laugh and enjoy the journey that they are on.

Real women ~ real stories.


Another very exciting part of this issue is a new column by Melanie Shankle, some of you know her as 'big mama.'
She debuts her Fashion Cafe with us, sharing 10 darling pieces that would look great in our summer wardrobe.
You will love her picks and her adorable personality. And if by any chance you've never met her online, please visit her blog. big mama I promise you will love her. If not, you can call me a liar and take a sharp stick to my eye.

Sorry, I'm a little slap happy after being on the computer for the past 24 hours straight to finish the magazine on time.

So, enough listening to me- click on the cover to view the magazine!

And have a wonderful weekend.

Feeling left out of the cool girl circles

So any other girlfriends here willing to raise their hand to this question...

Who else feels left out of the cool-girl circles sometimes?

Tell me I'm not alone in this.

Crazy isn't it?
We get thinking about how we feel outside of a certain circle of gals...all the while overlooking the circles that God has put us in.

What if God has us right where He wants us?
What if maybe the circle we think we belong in, would not be beneficial to us at all.

Maybe, just maybe the Lord wants us to be thankful for the people that He's put in our little sphere of the world and quit trying to belong somewhere else.

Proverbs 25:13 says:
Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in sweltering heat—refreshing!

Instead of worrying about what circle that we DO NOT belong to, let's try being this kind of friend to those in our life.

Be refreshing! Like an ice-cold mocha latte'!

I'm pretty sure that if we took this approach, we would deal less with rejection, loneliness and feelings of self-pity.

And besides that, in my book you are all so super cool and you can be a part of Praise and Coffee's circle any day!
So, carry on and coffee up!