To my Sisters,

Last September I began a journey that I admit had it moments! Nancy Miszczenski and I began a journey together and enrolled in Empower. Empower is a 9 month program of classes at Nyack College. There is a class about conflict, Old Testament, New Testament, Spiritual Gifts, prayer and so many more really great subjects. I never once walked out of a class or finished reading a required book not feeling wiser, stronger, and more confident in my identity Christ! I have a more clearer understanding of what Christ's death has done for me, for all of us. Jesus paid a debt of betrayal, beating, humiliation, and death that He didn't even owe. And the reward I get from Him paying my debt that He didn't owe is more than just going to heaven. It is having an intimate relationship with my Father; it is adoption into the Father's family; it is inheriting everything that Jesus has! These are things that I thought already knew, but I didn't truly completely get it. I didn't get the level of authority I can have through Jesus! My relationship with the Lord has grown in a way I never thought I would allow myself to have because of lack of worthiness. And I am not worthy to have a intense, close, intimate relationship with the Father, but through Jesus I am worthy! I have an understanding of my authority through Jesus like never before! I pray now with such a confident authority that has never been there before. We all have heard the phrase "Lord's Army", but I have bypassed the army...I am a Marine for the Lord now! I have weapons now that I never had before. Weapons that I have had have been upgraded!

I am calling my sisters to be a marine for the Lord! Take a step of faith and trust that the Lord will give you all that you need to travel through this journey. I'm gonna be frank. I have heard some of you say, I don't have the time or I can't write papers, or I'm not a reader, it is too far, I'm too old, I already know all this. Those are all lies the enemy wants us women to believe! You're right, you can't do it on your own, but you can if you lean on Jesus! He will give you everything you need to get through this stronger, more confident in your identity. Maybe you know this, but this will take it from your head to your heart or to another level of understanding. The papers are not graded, it is just to see your understanding. so who cares if you are not a good writer! Not a reader or have time to read? Just about every book is available in audio. That is what Nancy did when she drove to work.

We have been called to war for the Lord. We need to be warriors! "As warriors, we need to know well the weapons and methods of victory in our warfare. We must not only be aware of Satan, his schemes, and his methods, we must be wise and skilled in our God-provided means of defeating and routing him." Wesley L. Duewel

I have been praying for more TLC women to take a step of faith, trust God will give them all they need, and to shut down the lies the enemy has been whispering in their ears about Empower. I prayfully encourage you to allow your self to be equipped to be the warrior Jesus calls us to be. The road may have it's bumps, but I will be there to encourage, pray with you, and help you in any way. More importantly, God promises you that He has you and He will never forsake you!

- April Walters / Kids Director / April@truelifenj.com