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“Those Whom You Gave Me”

Posted by Debby on May 14, 2013

After a recent study of Jesus’ prayer in John 17, I was pondering how this portion of scripture applies to those of us in leadership in women’s ministry. In this prayer, we see Jesus’s heart as He prays for “those whom You gave me” – speaking of His eleven disciples with Him at the time, and His heart for us, “those who will believe on Me.” Jesus had manifested the Father’s name to this small group of men (vs.6) and had given them the Word of God (vs. 8). He had preached about God, but He also lived out God in an observable way in their midst (“he who has seen Me has seen the Father”). He had discipled them by encouraging and exhorting them as they stepped out in ministry. Jesus had poured His life into this small group of very ordinary men…men that He refers to as those God had given Him. We see Jesus’ heart for them as He prays for them. He commits the “keeping” of them to the Father (vs. 11), and prays for their unity (vs. 11, 21), their joy (vs. 13), protection from the evil in the world (vs. 15) and their purity (vs. 17).

Perhaps in a similar way, God has “given” us women…the women who take the step to walk in the door of a women’s event or women’s Bible study. In a very real way, those women are those whom God has given us. He has put them in our path, perhaps temporarily, so that we can live out God in an observable way so that they can know God better. God has given us the opportunity to teach them, disciple them, and minister to them individually. Some may leave, not being truly a part of us; others may stay and learn and grow with us. Who are those women that God has given you?

Posted in: Developing Leadership, Inspirations, News & Information

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In the Wine Press

Posted by Debby on May 7, 2013

Our pastor’s wife, Denise, shares a devotion about the pressure we sometimes experience in women’s ministry:

A wine press is a device used to extract juice from crushed grapes during wine making. There are many different kinds, but basically every wine press exerts pressure that will free the juice from the fruit. The wine press pictured continuously forces the grapes up against the barrel wall, applying pressure on the grapes until the juice is flowing. I can image that the grape, if it could think, might be a little discouraged, being forced up against that wall, particularly if it was unaware that there was a purpose for the pressure.

God says in Zech. 13:9b “I will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them” Isaiah 48:10 adds that God will test us in the furnace of affliction. God tries and proves our minds and hearts (Psalm 26:2). In ministry, we may find ourselves in the heat of a refiner’s fire, the furnace of affliction and the wine press. Will we draw close to the Lord and call on His name?

Often, in the intense preparations for a women’s event, we find all of our leaders “in the wine press.” Family and personal issues are putting pressure on them in addition to the demands of the upcoming event. Will we continue to serve Him while the pressure is on us, or will we give up? As the wine press exerts pressure on us, will we produce sour or sweet wine?

Posted in: News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning

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Communion at a Retreat

Posted by Debby on April 30, 2013

One of the final elements of any of our women’s retreats is communion. Besides providing another opportunity for the Lord to speak individually to our ladies, it can be a time of commitment and moving key lessons from the retreat from their mind to their heart. We like to schedule communion at the end of the retreat to give ladies that one last opportunity to be quiet before the Lord and hear from Him. It is a quiet time of reverent worship before the Lord.

One of our women’s leaders is in charge of communion at the retreat. She is responsible for making sure all supplies are purchased and taken to the retreat, as well as finding those ladies who will help fill the communion cups and pass out communion. Normally, one of the leaders will be assigned to do a short communion devotion, reminding women of Paul’s guidelines to partaking in the Lord’s Supper in I Cor. 11:23-30.

Hopefully, all those things that the Lord has been speaking to our ladies during the retreat will be solidified in their hearts as they humble themselves before the Lord at communion–before they head back out into the world and into their busy lives. Don’t neglect providing communion at your retreat!

Posted in: Ingredients for a Great Retreat, Ministry at the Retreat, News & Information

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Encouraging Women to Serve

Posted by Debby on April 23, 2013

Serving God in some capacity should be a part of every woman’s walk if they desire to grow spiritually. But we have a lot of women who are not actively serving the Lord within the church setting. Of course, work, family, other commitments and plain old busyness play a big role; but I believe that part of the reason could be that women just don’t know where they fit in and don’t feel confident in their abilities.

Pray that the Lord would allow you to see the gifts and talents in your women. God has blessed many of our women with spiritual gifts, hobbies and/or experience in areas that we may not be aware of because of our limited contact with them. We may have, even within our small women’s ministries, artists, interior decorators, musicians, actresses, seamstresses, cooks, administrators, ministers of mercy and helps, those who enjoy reading and even those who have the gift of making women feel comfortable and welcome. When God brings these gifts to your attention, He can show you areas in your women’s ministry that would be a good fit for them. When given a chance to serve, many women blossom and become more confident in ministry.

Some women will never respond to a church announcement or a sign up sheet, so pray about inviting ladies personally to help out. A personal invitation, particularly one that includes an awareness of their individual gifts, abilities and experience, can make all the difference!

Posted in: Developing Leadership, News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning

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Let the Craziness Begin!

Posted by Debby on April 16, 2013

In case you are planning your first retreat, I want you to be forewarned: You can expect that last month or three weeks prior to the retreat to be “crazy” for you and your leadership team.

First, there is the normal flurry of activity as registration comes to an end. If you have a preliminary retreat registration deadline, that activity will start just prior to the retreat price going up. As registration closes, assigning rooms and getting the rooming list to the hotel by the deadline becomes becomes a priority, and you can expect there will be plenty of issues to resolve.

Not only is registration all in a dither, the leaders are all busy with last minute preparations, and Murphy’s Law kicks into effect as the enemy steps up his inevitable attacks on the work and in individual homes and families.

Be encouraged by I Chronicles 28:20: “…Be strong and of good courage, and do it: do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you ave finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.”

Posted in: News & Information, Retreat and Event Planning

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