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Lessons from Aaron and Hur (Part 1)

Posted by Debby on August 25, 2010

In Exodus 17:8-13, we read of the battle of Israel with the army of Amalek. Moses stood at the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand. As long as Moses held up the staff, the Israelites had the advantage; but when he lowered the staff, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. When Moses’ arms became too tired, Aaron and Hur, who were with him, found a stone for him to sit on, and then they stood on either side of him, holding up his arms and keeping the rod of God in the air. Somehow, holding up the “rod of God” was significant to the outcome of the battle. As a result, Joshua and his troops crushed the army of Amalek.

There are many lessons to be derived from this event, particularly for those of us who work beside our pastor’s wife or another leader in the women’s ministry. First, we need to recognize that it was not Moses that gained the victory; it was God, working in their midst, as symbolized by the rod of God which Moses held up. The rod of God indicated that Moses looked to God alone for the victory and did not trust in man. Victory depended on the power of God. But, of course, Moses on his own, got weary. So Aaron and Hur coming alongside Moses at this critical time made the difference between victory and defeat.

Moses was the one the people looked to and recognized as their leader. He had a great burden of responsibility–to hold his hands in the air, elevating the rod of God, until victory was achieved. And yet, he was just a human being. He got weary; his arms grew weak. He could not do it alone.

This relates to our leaders. God has put one (perhaps our pastor’s wife) in leadership of the women’s ministry, and the ladies recognize her authority. They look to see her leading them, and feel secure when she is present and in charge. But she cannot do it all by herself. Your leader may have a young family or aging parents to care for; she may have a full-time job, deal with chronic illness, or have other permanent or temporary issues which also demand her time and energy. She needs those to come alongside and “hold up her arms.” (For more on Aaron and Hur, go to Part 2)

Posted in: Inspirations, Realities of Ministry

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Journey to Retreat 2010 – August

Posted by Debby on August 24, 2010

Our August leaders’ meeting was held this week. We are now barely three months away from the retreat, and some of our leaders have already been very busy with preparations.

Registration materials have been developed and printed, and registration packets have already been sent out to sister churches. All registration materials are ready to go, although it will be a month before we start registration at our church.
We reviewed the “results” of the retreat planning meeting (which was not well attended), and proposed other ways of presenting the retreat opportunities to our women who may want to serve. We will be bringing the sign-up sheets for the retreat to the women’s Bible study. We may also make them available after Sunday service in the Fellowship Hall, and at the Welcome Center when women pick up registration information next month.
We will make sure that a flyer insert for the bulletin is created so that it will be ready when registration for the retreat opens in mid-September. Up to that point, there will just be regular bulletin announcements so that our ladies will be kept informed and can plan ahead.

Besides the leaders involved in very preliminary things like organization, registration and retreat planning, the rest of us are just beginning to get on top of our areas of responsibility. Skit writing will begin in the next two weeks. Our quiet time activity is being planned. The schedule is being developed. Books for book reviews are being determined. Supplies for decorations are being gathered. By our September meeting, every area should have progress to report.

Posted in: Journey to Retreat 2010

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Pros and Cons – Retreat Camp

Posted by Debby on August 23, 2010

In determining a location for your overnight retreat, you can choose from two general categories: hotels and retreat camps. We have held retreats at both over the years. This year, we again checked out hotels and nearby camps where our retreat could be held, comparing amenities and costs. So we decided to give you our list of pros and cons for each. Perhaps you can think of others! Let’s begin with the retreat camp:

RETREAT CAMP – Pros

Often located outside of the city, where there is more opportunity for actual scenery, less city noise, closer to nature and a feeling of “getting away”;
Less crowded;
Often, there are different accommodation options available, ranging from hotel rooms to cabins to dorms;
Generally, a retreat camp is a little less expensive, depending on your accommodations;
Many retreat camps are Christian-owned and operated, meaning that you are mostly dealing with Christians;
May accomodate smaller groups without requiring room commitment;
Often, you can bring your own snacks into the meeting room;
More opportunity for outdoor activities, such as hiking, outdoor sports, water activities, etc.

RETREAT CAMP – Cons

Weather can be an issue because moving to meeting area or cafeteria often requires a walk outside;
Often, retreat camps are out of town and require more driving in unfamiliar territory;
Camp food often leans toward the higher fat, more carbohydrate filled “comfort” food (expect gravy!);
Food may be served cafeteria style, on their schedule;
Meeting rooms may be less comfortable, less conducive to media use;
Possibly less privacy and more rustic bathrooms;
Beds less comfortable, and you may have to bring your own bedding; and many camps still have bunk beds for certain levels of accommodations;
Dorms may present challenges due to loud sleepers, late-nighters, early risers, etc.;
Bunk beds may be an option, presenting difficulties for those sleeping in the top bunk;
May present physical challenges for older or disabled guests;
Depending on how rustic the camp is, sewer problems can be an issue;
Bugs and critters (need we say more?).

Posted in: Location, Location, Location, Retreat and Event Planning

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Assigning a Table Leader to Encourage Fellowship

Posted by Debby on August 20, 2010

At most of our women’s events that involve women eating and fellowshipping around a table, we assign a “table leader” for each table. This person is friendly and good at drawing people into the group conversation. Her job is to do her best to engage everyone at the table in conversation. This is not always easy, but she attempts to make sure that every woman attending the event feels included. In order to get everyone engaged, the table leader may also need to tactfully and gently keep one person from monopolizing the conversation around the table.

A simple beginning is by having each woman at the table introduce herself and tell a little something about herself. We try to facilitate this by using “ice breaker” questions. Sometimes these ice breaker questions are introduced by the emcee of the event; other times each table determines their own. But the goal is always to draw people into conversation, help the new women or the more reserved personalities to get acquainted and feel welcome, and to encourage fellowship.

Posted in: Little Things Make a Big Difference!

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Difficult People (Part 2)

Posted by Debby on August 18, 2010

Author Brooks Faulkner identifies nine types of difficult people with these humorous nicknames. See if any of these seem familiar:

1. The sherman tank will run right over you.

2. The star performer is entitled to your preferential treatment.

3. The megaphone will talk your ear off.

4. The bubble buster deflates everyone’s enthusiasm.

5. The volcano has a temper like Mt. St. Helen’s.

6. The cry baby is a chronic complainer.

7. The nit picker is an unpleasable perfectionist.

8. The backbiter is a mater of calculated rumor

9. The space cadet is on a different wavelength.

Some of those descriptions have a ring of truth! We do have people in our lives, and within our women’s ministries, who take advantage of us, who hurt us, who are critical and impossible to please, and who never have enough of our attention. BUT behind the difficult people of life is God, who has ordained the circumstances of our life. God has, in His perfect purpose, put difficult people in our lives for His glory and our good. He uses them as sandpaper to refine us–to help us grow and become more Christlike. Roy Hession (in The Calvary Road) says that God tests us, using difficult people to make us humble and broken before Him. God will allow problem people to come into our lives so that we will learn to depend more on His power and not our own resources. He uses them to encourage us to pray, to trust His Word and depend on His Spirit for love and grace. If that is true, then to not honor them is to not honor God.

Certainly, responding in a Christ-like manner to difficult people often requires us dying to our own selfish desires as we strive to love and serve them–and that is a good thing. Someone once said “Difficult people are the nails which keep us on the cross.“

So expect difficult people–accept them, and let God use them in your life.

Posted in: Realities of Ministry

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