A Word from Luann

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

Did 2018 bring you any challenges, heartache or opportunities? Maybe there were times you felt like no one ‘got you.’

This verse sets up one of the best known passages, so take a moment to park here with me.

It’s normal to get tired. It’s ok to grow weary. As a matter of fact, God wired us that way! When we desperately need someone to notice, He does, He never stopped. In our weakness He brings the strength.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 49:29 (NIV)

This year may have been the forerunner to your strongest year yet! He’s prepared to make you stronger than ever.

There’s one thing needed, only one. Hope. If you’ve experienced His rescue in the past then you know He’s able to do more than we can imagine.

What if this past year was a launchpad to take you to new heights and to strengthen your resolve?

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

Our theme for 2019 is STRONGER. Because our hope is not in the circumstances around us, rather it lies in the Savior within us, we are stronger!

Stronger than we were before the trial. Stronger because He understands our weakness. Stronger together than we could ever be alone.

Let’s march into this new year with renewed strength and soar!

In His grip,

Mama Lu

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

Register early for all our events. Each attendee is prayed for by name and assigned to a Name of God. Every name matters, YOU matter...to us and to God.

All Tickets are $20

PER's Encouragement Cafe

Mechanicsville, VA

Saturday, January 26, 2019, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Fairmont Christian Church, 6502 Creighton Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 2311

Featuring:

Theresa Mills - On Air Host, Speaker

Dawn Aldrich - Author, Speaker

Lisa Albinus - Stage Artist, Bible Journaling

Natasha Owens - Worship Artist, Songwriter, Speaker

Plus the women of PER and Encouragement Cafe

Ad ons:

Chick Fil A lunch, $10

Bible Journaling 3 PM-5 PM $10

Joy Fm's Unspeakable Joy

Advance, NC

Saturday, February 16, 2019, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Calvary West, 13 Medical Dr, Advance, NC 27006

Featuring:

Also:

Luann Prater - Founder Encouragement Cafe Ministries

Natasha Owens - Award-winning Singer, Songwriter, Speaker

Worship with High Road - GMA Female Group of the Year

Betty Shoopman & Lisa Albinus - Stage Artists & Bible Journaling

A Cup of Encouragement

Berlin, CT

Saturday, November 2, 2019, 9 AM - 12 PM

Wellspring Church, 222 Lincoln St, Berlin, CT 06037

Tickets available soon

Interested in hosting an event in your community or church?

We can help you customize an event that fits your needs. Whether it's a speaker, artist, half-day, or full-day event, we would love to work with you to help you bring encouragement to others within your community. For more information email: events@encouragementcafe.com and we'll help get you started.

What women are saying about the live events:

"Love listening to these ladies! They remind me that I'm human, I'm a woman, I'm NOT perfect and don't have to be because I am FORGIVEN!"

"I LOVE how every woman was prayed over and assigned a Name of God. Mine is so fitting for what God has been doing in my life. It gave me chills when I read it! My card is in my Bible."

"Thank you for being so in-tune with the Lord and giving us the opportunity to come to His feet and draw in love and wisdom."

Encouragement Cafe features a daily devotion from one of our many talented writers from across the United States. These women have a fierce faith in Jesus Christ and share their God-stories with our readers. You can subscribe to our devotions here.

Meet: Annah Matthews

As the daughter of a pastor, Annah grew up in the church, learning about Christ sitting in the front row of the church watching her mom sing in the choir and her dad lead the congregation in hymn and praise. At age twelve, she was led to Jesus by her Sunday School teacher right in her living room.

In her senior year of high school, her close friend was killed instantly in a car accident. It shook her faith to the core and took her on a journey of questioning who the Lord was and what she really believed. Through those years of questioning and searching, rebellion, anger, and chaotic lifestyle choices, she found herself in a place of shame, guilt, and disgrace for who she had become.

Completely unfulfilled, Annah slowly began rebuilding her relationship with God and allowed Him to fill the hurt and pain with grace, mercy, love and deep forgiveness. Annah thanks God for the foundation of Christian parents who covered her in prayer during her “prodigal years” before she returned back to Him. Annah has learned first-hand about His amazing grace and just how sweet it is! Her desire is that women know that their identity is in Christ alone and that His love for us runs deeper than we could ever imagine.

Annah’s undergraduate degrees are in Psychology and Social Work. She also has a Masters Degree in Education. She and her husband lead a community group for middle school students in their home and she enjoys volunteering her time in her neighborhood, church, and community.

Annah resides just outside of Winston-Salem, NC with her husband and three active children! She loves to laugh, tell stories, and knows better than to take life too seriously because her children keep her humble.

When Annah is not taking care of her family, serving in her community, or with Encouragement Cafe you can find her running outdoors or at a sporting event with her family!

Encouragement Cafe represents numerous gifted speakers from around the U. S. eager to share their God stories with you. Maybe you've heard a few of our EC speakers at our live events, but did you know they're available for your individual church events? Simply email our Director of Events, Annah Matthews at events@encouragementcafe.com to learn more.

Meet: Dawn Mast

Dawn has been married to her husband Mark for 25 years and live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She’s quite witty! You’d have to be, with a doctor husband who grew up in Argentina (We love Jesus and soccer. In that order!), 4 kids, 2 enormous dogs, and 10 years homeschooling. The Mast Family finds plenty to laugh about!

Speaking Topics

Because being in a medical marriage has its ups, downs and can be a bit misunderstood in society, Dawn loves to speak about how to make medical marriage better and stronger for the Lord. She has godly wisdom for how to grow your marriage for the Lord amidst the struggles of unusual schedules, medical corporate pressure and having a husband who just sometimes “checks out” because his people skills have been used up on others.

* Medical Marriage

* Homeschooling

* Motherhood/Parenting

* Medical Missions

The Story Behind the Painting

by Lisa Albinus, EC Stage Artist

Imagine that you have just committed a sin, and you are led to repent through the grace of the Holy Spirit’s prompting. You find yourself at the edge of the ocean. You cast that sin out into the ocean, throwing it as far as you can, watching it bob out to sea like an empty soda can. Satan would have you believe that you are casting that sin out into the eternal wretchedness of all your past sins, that it is just one more in the ever-increasing pile that houses your shame.

In this reality, it never breaks down or goes away. It might wash back on the shores of your heart, with guilt and remorse and then floats back out to the sea of wretchedness. The tides bring in other sins that awaken the sense of guilt and dread. Satan would have you NEVER forget the past sins because he is the accuser of the brethren. He will remind you of your sins only to torment you, if you let him.

But, here is the reality:

You stand on the shores of God's grace, mercy and love. You see the sin, recognize it and repent from it, and cast it off into the ocean of God's love. It is erased for all eternity, through His blood! Our God takes those sins and they disappear into the great expanse of His grace! The only thing that is lapping onto the shores of your heart is God's love, forgiveness and mercy.

If Satan is beating you up with old junk, stand on the shores of God's love today, and know that God doesn't even remember that sin...if you are clean before the Father - then you are clean. Silence the attack of the enemy! Get yourself back to the shoreline of His grace, and see the expanse of the crystal blue waters, see the expanse of God's love for you and His forgiveness. It is FINISHED, when you cast it into His expanse. Silence the enemy with truth!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

This painting was painted in Chesterfield, South Carolina. It was an interactive painting with the members of the audience. The first layer houses the lies of the enemy. Participants wrote these down and brought them to the front, as I wrote them into the painting. The second layer houses Scripture that defeats these lies with truth. The painting is created through painting with words and revealing the power of the Scriptures! Look closely, and you will see the words making up the water!

Want to host a live stage painting at your next event? Contact Annah for more information at annah@encouragementcafe.com

"...from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...2 Timothy 3:15-16 (NIV)

Looking for a bible study for your small group or for personal discipleship at your own pace? Encouragement Cafe welcomes you to use their scripturally sound bible study material. Just click on the link below.