Dear Friends,
Lately I have really been struggling with feelings that perhaps God is wanting me to slow things down with my speaking ministry to focus more time on my family and writing projects during 2008. I've tried very hard to fight these feelings...because my speaking ministry gives me such GREAT JOY. I love to share my passion for HIM with others and encourage them to be excited about the wonderful plans He has for each of them!!
Limiting myself to one speaking engagement per month, seemed like the best possible solution. (It's been extremely hard turning groups down, it's quite obvious that certain specific months are the most popular with women's ministry events.) However, even with scaling back this past year, meeting my family's needs has been very difficult. Even with just one event per month, all of the other necessary aspects of the ministry, paperwork, bookkeeping, answering emails, presentation prep-time, etc. take an extreme effort of concentration and focus on my part, leaving little time for focus on my family. All of this may seem simple to you, but with my challenges of Adult ADD, (Attention Deficit Disorder) it's very difficult to find "focus" balance.
I know that God has plans for me to continue to minister to women across this country...however...at this time, I feel He's wanting me to minister more at home. My kids are both in their teen years and I feel that these years are critical. Just last week, through the kids' school progress/report cards, God gave confirmation to my heart that this is what I need to do. He needs me to be HERE to minister as Mom at this time. (No my kids aren't totally failing...but they've not been receiving the encouragement and consistency they need to meet their full potential.)
The Holy Spirit within guides me in this decision, while my head says "Anne, you are nuts, putting your ministry on "pause"...when things are going SO WELL!" But I just have to step in obedience to the way I feel the Lord is leading me, and trust that if HE wants me to serve in the "speaking" area again in the future (which I feel confident that HE does), He will flourish it again!
My most heartfelt and sincere apologies to the groups that booked for an event in 2008 that I must now cancel. (With the only exception being two groups whose events were booked back in 2006 for their events in 2008) It truly breaks my heart to have to do this, I was so looking forward to working with each of you. I pray for your forgiving grace and understanding and I am confident that GOD will reveal just the right speaker for your events. You will each be in my prayers.
I'll keep my website up and going....and will probably be doing ministry through journaling and writing from there until HE gives me the okay to move forward with speaking again. I'd appreciate your prayers. I'm already receiving multiple requests for my book on striving to live a victorious life in Christ while enduring the challenges of Adult ADD. Please pray that God will help me to focus to complete this project in HIS timing. My humble and sincere thanks!
God's blessings and joy to each of you!
In Jesus most precious name,
Anne
