Guest blogger Lauren Farmer, who serves as an Event Project Coordinator for LifeWay's Women’s Training and Events and helps leaders understand the life of a college age woman in this post today. This is a great post to forward to your young women as well!

 A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to lead breakout sessions for college girls on the topic of preparing for life after college at one of LifeWay college event's, Collegiate Week.  Not only was it a sweet time of refreshment and encouragement for me personally, I also got to meet and get to know some amazing young women.  I was overwhelmed by the number of girls who stayed after the sessions ended to talk, share, and ask questions.  I was most overwhelmed by the number of girls who told me that the session was "exactly what they had needed to hear" or that no one was talking about these issues (or at least doing so honestly).  I don't say this to toot my own horn at all... rather I want to encourage you as leaders to continue to invest and speak into the lives of a younger women. And, do so with authenticity.  You don't have to be perfect or have it all together.  Just be yourself.  Be honest. Be real.  Walk with them through life. 

 Although I don't have space to share all the practical & heart issues we addressed in the breakouts, I do want share with you the 10 "must-do's" I gave to the girls for transitioning from college into young adulthood (although I think these could apply to transitioning through various seasons of life)....

 1. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You don't know everything even though you have a college degree. There I said. It is true. Accept it. Move on. And ask for help when you need it.  Trust me; it will save you a lot of time and energy.

 2. Find someone further down the road than you.  We all need someone who understands us, who has walked a mile in our shoes.  Find someone who can help you through the transition to this new season of life. 

 3. Be intentional.  If you want to find someone further down the road than you it takes being intentional 9 times out of 10.  Actually, most things in life require you being intentional to get them, achieve them, whatever.  You don't expect a job to come looking for you after college (at least I hope not!) and you can't expect community or a mentor to magically walk into your life without some intentionality on your part. 

 4. Read, listen, learn, prepare, plan!  My pastor said in a sermon last week, "God is opposed to earning not to effort."  While he was talking about salvation, I think this can be applied to many areas of our spiritual life. Be a learner, plan for the future appropriately, etc.  Don't think, however, because of your effort God is somehow obligated to fulfill your plans and dreams.

 5. Be flexible.  You have plans. They will change in some way.  You don't like that one.  Neither do I.  Join the club.  Learn to hold things loosely early on and let the Lord do what the Lord wants to do.

 6. Have reasonable expectations. You probably aren't going to learn your dream job right out of college.  I know, I am a real Debbie Downer.  The point is, be reasonable with your expectations for this new season of life.  It is just like any other season of life... full of blessings and challenges.  Know that life isn't going to be perfect but God is good and has good things in store for you (despite if you end up taking a job that gives you a lot of paper cuts)

 7. Surround yourself with a few good girlfriends. And by "good" I mean girls that genuinely care about you, will encourage you, and help you walk through this interesting thing called life.

 8. Stay committed to a church family.  Find a church.  Commit to being there and being a part of the church community through small groups, Sunday school, serving, etc.  It is easy not to go in a new city or when there is a big life change.  You need to hear the teaching of God's Word and you need community.  I don't care if you went to bible college and know Greek (I did and I do). You need to be a part of a church body.  I know it sounds crazy, but this at times can be one of the hardest things in young adulthood.

 9. Use your time wisely. This season won't last forever.  Use your time for Kingdom purposes.  Don't waste your life.  Even if you push paper to pay the bills figure out a way to live in the context God has placed you significantly.

 10. Lean into and focus on the LORD! It is easy not to, especially in the midst of change.  No matter where you are or what you are going through remember who the Lord is and seek him.  Life isn't always easy, especially in the "real" world, but our God is good and faithful.  He walks with you through every season, every struggle, every joy.  You know that now you say.  But one day you might just need to be reminded of it.
 

Lauren is a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary  in Louisville, Kentucky, where she received a Masters of Divinity in Women’s Leadership. During her time in Louisville, she served as interim Associate Director of Student Life and Adjunct Instructor of Christian Education at Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Lauren has a passion for reaching and equipping young women.

Additional Resources:

Women Reaching Women

Transformed Lives

Woman to Woman Mentoring

Leading Young Women (past blogs relating to leading young adult women) 

   Women’s ministry leaders can be catalysts to encourage love and support for our ministers’ wives. Check out these suggestions provided by women’s leader and pastor’s wife Becky Badry. 

The ministers' wives in your church are special ladies in your women's ministry with a set of needs unique to ministers' families. Make special efforts to take care of a minister's wife and family by trying a few practical ministry ideas:

1.    First and foremost, pray for her. Ask for her prayer requests, and check back for answered prayers. If she shares with you, confidentiality is a must.

2.    Ask her to give her testimony at a women's event.

3.    Recognize her during pastor appreciation month (October) as part of the pastoral family.

4.    Take up a love offering just for her.

5.    Get to know her. Ask her questions about her favorite people, places, and things.

6.    Send her cards and notes of encouragement.

7.    Remember birthdays and anniversaries with cards and or gifts.

8.    Be sensitive to ministers' family time.

9.    Be responsive in times of illness or needs.

10. Give her a prepaid phone card so she can call family and friends.

11. Offer free childcare so that she can have a break from the kids.

12. Give her a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant.

13. Go shopping with her, and buy her a new dress or outfit (Don't just give her the money - she's like every other woman and will probably spend it on the kids or something for the home!).

14. Invite her to have lunch with the girls.

15. Pay for her to have a manicure, pedicure, or a day at the spa.

16. Pay for the minister's family to have a night out (ballgame, movie, or dinner)

17. Pay expenses so that she may attend women's ministry or ministers' wives events.

18. Give her a gift of thank-you cards, and include a book of stamps.

Use these simple ideas to encourage the ministers' wives in your church and show your support from one church leader to another.

Additional resource:

Contagious Joy Website 

Becky is former Director of Women’s Resources and Missions Mobilization for the Colorado Baptist Convention. She is also a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. In addition to serving Colorado Baptists as a missionary with the North American Mission Board, Becky has been a minister’s wife for over 30 years. She and her husband have served churches in Oklahoma, Georgia, and Colorado and are currently members of Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, CO. Becky has a passion to see minister’s wives network and find the encouragement they need to faithfully fulfill God’s call in their lives. Becky has completed her Women’s Ministry Certification at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of Golden Gate Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. She was also the recipient of the Educational Leadership Service in Ministry Award in 2010. Becky and Jay have two sons, Jeremy and Justin, and a wonderful daughter –in-law, Rochelle.  Becky is also the founder and director of Women in Leadership Coaching .

How do you view your ministry life? Separate from the rest of life, or a part of the whole? I remember years ago when I was serving on a church staff in Tyler, Texas, a principle that God revealed to me: As Christians, we are either in full time ministry or we aren’t in ministry at all.   That was something He compelled me to share with other women from that time on.

Sometimes we feel guilty if we put family before ministry outside the home. Other times we feel like we are wasting time if we are just sitting in solitude. God created family, rest and recreation, and those are to be a part of our balanced life…a part of our “ministry calling”.

We cannot separate “ministry” from “life”. We have one life and it all involves ministry when we do it for His glory. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, ^“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.” (HSCB) (see also Colossians 3:17)

Certainly leading women, serving in student ministry, and singing in the choir is ministry…but so is preparing a meal for my family, calling my loved one I haven’t seen in a while, and even spending time resting when it is what God has called me to do for that block of time.

Never forget, whatever family you dwell in the same home with is your ministry! If they see you always on the go doing ministry for others, but they do not feel they ever get your attention, they may become resentful toward the church. Family is the highest priority on our ministry list.

Start each day offering God the WHOLE day from the time our feet hit the floor until our head hits the pillow again. Allow Him to show you moment by moment how you are to minister…then your whole life you are living out that “ministry calling” whether it’s gardening with a friend, teaching a Bible study, taking a walk with your daughter, or counseling a woman in crisis.

If you missed this live informative web cast: LifeWay Girls Live…Trials and Truths for Today’s Teen Girls with guests Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP, and Melissa Trevathan, M.R.E. and hosted by Girls’ Ministry Specialist, Pam Gibbs on August 30 you can still watch the recording here.

Today's girls deal with so much—gender confusion, sexual pressure, fractured families, mean girls, just to name a few. Join Chris Adams and Pam Gibbs as they talked with Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan, licensed counselors who work with teen girls on a   regular basis. In this Web cast, you'll not only hear from them about what girls are dealing with but also what you can do.

National Women's Leadership Forum

      Guest blogger Debbie Stuart serves as Director of Women’s Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. As a leader for many years, she has seen ministry to women change often. Read her wise words about making change to benefit the lives of the women God brings into your life and ministry.       

When my family and I moved to a new home from a house we'd lived in for 10 years, it was quite a task! We had to decide what to pack, what needed cleaning, and what to throw away. On top of that, we had to make plans for things in our new home.

Just like my family had to do those things to move to our next house, ministry leaders should figuratively pack, clean, throw away, and plan in order to move forward in ministry.

Here are four steps to help you take your existing women's ministry to the next level:

Step One: Pack Up.

God undoubtedly wants you to "pack up" and take certain things with you to the next level of ministry with Him. In addition, you also need to make sure your personal and your leadership team's spirits are "packed full" with His Spirit so you can discern His leadership in your ministry.

The best way to do both these things is to spend time alone with God first, and then spend time with your team discussing what He's said regarding the ministry.

·  Arrange to get away for a set amount of time and give the Lord some undivided attention in regards to your women's ministry.

· Ask the hard questions: Will you still do whatever God asks of you in ministry? Are you still the leader He has chosen for this time in this ministry?

· Ask for insight. With a clean heart - and clean sheet of paper - ask the Lord to reveal to you His design and ideas for this specific ministry. Jot down what He brings to mind.

·Ask for passion. Recommit yourself to this service. Dedicate and devote everything you've got!

·Ask others: What's working? What would God have you keep as you learn to maximize the ministry? What are new ways your ministry can excel? What parts of the ministry are lacking and need some attention?

Step Two: Clean Up.

Carve out time with your team to clarify, recommit, define hopes and expectations, and so forth.

· Revisit each team member's commitment level and calling to this ministry on an individual basis. Ask her to share where she is, what she believes her present calling is, her input into making the ministry stronger, etc.

·Replace team members who cannot give or follow 100 percent. Based on your discussions and interaction with your leadership, determine if the make-up of the team may need to change. Pray for God's wisdom if a leader indicates she'd like to step down or if you believe a new leader is needed.

· Refuel spiritually by studying, praying, and talking together.

· Remind the team about God's vision for women's ministry.

· Renew your commitment to the Lord first and then to the team.

Step Three: Throw Away.

Whenever you move, you discover things you've kept but don't really need. Sometimes it's the same way in ministry. If it's not contributing toward the God-given vision for your ministry, it may need to be thrown away. Pray through changes that could be made.

· Take a hard look at what ministry offerings may not be what God has for your particular ministry. Ask the Lord if He wants you to leave those behind before moving on with Him.

· Some things are no-brainers for the trash pile! Get rid of any personal agendas, pride, or unconfessed sin. You and your team must commit to each other and to the cause of Christ first and foremost.

Step Four: Plan for the Future.

Now that you've packed up, cleaned up, and thrown some things away, can you envision your ministry operating on a new level? During this transition time, and as your ministry continues to grow and change, use these ideas to lay a foundation for the future God has in store:

· Communicate the additions/changes to the ministry. Give it a new look; ask questions; talk it up!

· Host a celebratory, motivational fellowship for all your ladies. Spend time explaining where the ministry is and where your team believes the Lord is leading you to go. Above all, remind them that each one of them is valued and needed.

· Raise the level of expectation. Don't be satisfied with status quo - expect big things from God! You and your team's level of enthusiasm about what God is doing will filter down to the ladies in your church.

· Think of ways to energize the women. In your ministry, try out something unexpected and different, and make it fun for your ladies. Putting a new twist on a "typical" women's ministry event or activity can bring a fresh excitement.

· Add a new ministry offering. As God leads, do something you've never done before - organize a mission project; try a new outreach event; the possibilities are endless!

· Design a fresh look for the ministry. Have a logo created. Get your newsletter redesigned. Use available display space in your church to put "faces" with the ministry through photos, testimonies, and more. Make the ministry visible among your church and your community.

· Survey women formally or informally about the ministry. Ask for insight, ideas, and input. You might also get ideas and good thoughts from other women's leaders in your area, Web sites, and so forth.

By taking these four key steps in your women's ministry, you'll be ready to move to the next level with God to reach women for Him.

 Debbie Stuart is Women’s Ministry Director, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX and a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She earned her Women's Ministry Advanced Certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary  and is a member of theAssociation of Women’s Ministry Professionals . In addition to being a conference and retreat speaker and Bible study teacher, she was the founder and director of Network Extravaganza in the Shreveport, Louisiana area. She is married and has two young adults.

Recently at a YOU Lead women’s leadership training, we had a panel answering questions submitted by attendees. Several past and upcoming posts address those and try to help answer them

Today’s question is: Can you expand on a younger women’s team? How often do you meet? What kind of input and service do they for the women’s ministry? How does the meeting flow?

In one of the workshops I led, I shared about the young women’s team at my church. We have a team of young women who head this up and if functions under the larger umbrella of our women’s ministry team.

These younger leaders plan and execute ministry to reach women like themselves. They decide which studies to offer¸ when and where to offer those studies, and they help to promote the groups among the younger women. We have even had some young women do studies from their home to reach their neighbors. Our women’s minister sits in on their meetings as I do as well as I can, mainly so I can learn from them what is working and what’s not. She gives input and advice as necessary but allows them to dream and plan as long as it supports the overall purpose of ministry with women.

Normally they meet about once a month for an hour or so. They took a break during the summer from the monthly meetings, but continued to offer some small groups. Once summer they had Bible study in the park while the older children watched the younger. Then they had a picnic lunch.

Many of these young women are involved in various other types of leadership and service. And that is the goal of all ministry we do with women…grow them up and set them free to serve and share their faith.

Not everything they do works out perfectly, but each time it has not, they have learned great lessons. The main thing is that we (if we are the older leaders) must listen to what they say and let them try things, even if we don’t think it will work! And guess what, sometimes it works better than anyone imagined!

Women Reaching Women

Transformed Lives

Lost & Found

Essential Church

Context

Stephanie Edge,  Director of Women’s Ministry, Poplar Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, TN, is our guest blogger today. I know none of you ever has trouble saying “no”, but perhaps some of those on your leadership team do! (LOL!)

 Have you ever said “Yes” to something when you really needed to say “No”? Women and leaders, in particular, have multiple activities and opportunities vying for their time, talents, and resources. In addition, saying “No” can be accompanied by guilt trips and disappointing others. Is there a guilt-free way to say “No”? How can we as leaders successfully navigate how we spend our time and resources and help other women to do the same? When is it “OK” to say “No”?

Author and Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer shared a conversation with a mentor concerning time management. Priscilla was asking a how question: “How can I be a good wife, a good mom, a good Bible teacher, etc. In other words, how can I be all things to all people?” Can you relate? Every woman and leader has her own list of responsibilities which can be overwhelming. Priscilla’s mentor simply responded – you can’t, a perhaps startling and shocking response. An answer that contradicts the cultural message to women – you can have and do it all. The mentor explained to Priscilla that she would need to make choices and decisions that would enable her to follow and to fulfill God’s calling on her life. We must first know God’s calling and then order our time and lives accordingly. Priscilla quotes Bible teacher Anne Graham Lotz in Discerning the Voice of God, “I never make a major decision, especially one that will affect another person, before I receive direction from God.” Knowing when to say “Yes” requires seeking God’s face.  

Well-known Bible teacher Beth Moore has often spoken about the demands and choices she faces. She speaks of the sacrifices that are necessary for her to spend the needed time in Bible study in order to fulfill God’s call of teaching women.  Sometimes these are tough choices. Speaker and Bible teacher Mary Kassian explained how she decides which speaking engagements to accept by saying that she must be sure that God is calling her there because if not, she is standing in the way of someone else who He has called. How many times have we as leaders stepped in and accepted a responsibility that someone else was called to fulfill? Anne referred to this – our decisions not only affect us, but others as well.

Jesus experienced the multiple opportunities, demands, and the expectations of others during His ministry. Mark 1 gives an account of the activities of His ministry that included calling the disciples (16-20), preaching in the synagogue (21-22), casting out an unclean spirit (23-24), healing Simon’s mother-in-law (29-31), and healing the sick and demon-possessed (32-34). It is important to note Jesus’ actions in v. 35-39, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Simon and his companions went searching for Him. They found Him and said, `Everyone’s looking for you.’ And He said to them, `Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.’ So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” In this passage, Jesus was faced with multiple possible actions that He could take and was told of the people’s expectations and desires. However, Jesus makes a different choice. He knew God’s will because He had spent time with the Father. Therefore, He was able to say, “No” to the wrong requests and “Yes” to God’s purpose for Him.

Take-a-ways:

(1) We must give ourselves and other women permission to say “No”.

(2) We must spend time with the Father in order to know when to say “Yes”.

(3) Fulfilling God’s purpose requires tough choices and determination.

 Additional Resources:

He Speaks to Me and Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

 Stephanie Edge is the Director of Women’s Ministry, Poplar Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, TN and a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She is an Associate Professor at Union University in Jackson, TN. Stephanie graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. She also received an Advanced Women’s Ministry Certificate as well as completed a Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Christian Education. She has a passion for God’s Word and enjoys ministering to women.

Recently at a YOU Lead women’s leadership training, we had a panel answering questions submitted by attendees. Several past and upcoming posts address those and try to help answer them. 

Today’s question is: What are some practical, non-threatening ways to help women overcome fear of praying for and about others in small groups? (also see the 5 part series of blog posts on prayer)

For women who are new believers, or new to small Bible study or prayer groups, praying out loud can be frightening. Some may hear you or others pray and think they have to know certain words or pray specific ways to talk to God. Teaching women about prayer is a good start, but then how do we get them to feel free to pray?

 1.       Let them know ahead of time, no one will be forced to pray.

2.       When you pray, try using simple language.

3.       Remember, sometimes the best prayers are short!

4.       Try encouraging one word responses to prayer. For instance, open the prayer, then ask women in the group to just speak one word that describes how they love God, or give their favorite name/description for God.

5.       When sharing several requests, ask who in the group might pray just for Susan’s request. Who else will pray for the VBS that begins tomorrow?

6.       Lead a directed prayer time: begin with sharing names of adoration for God, move them to confession, ask what they are thankful for, pray for specific needs on each heart (each time you being with short prayer thoughts).

 What other thoughts do you have about getting women to pray in groups?

 Some great prayer resources:

Transformed Lives: Taking women’s Ministry to the Next Level, compiled by Chris Adams (Some of the information above was taken from this resource)
He Speaks to Me, Priscilla Shirer
Discerning God’s Voice, Priscilla Shirer
Oh, God, Please, Leighann McCoy
Whispers of Hope, Beth Moore
Lord, Teach Me to Pray, Kay Arthur
Disciples PrayerLife, Hunt & Walker
Various Studies on Prayer by Jennifer Kennedy Dean
In God’s Presence, T. W. Hunt
The Prayer of Jesus, Ken Hemphill
Follow Me: Lessons for Becoming a Prayerwalker, Randy Sprinkle

  I read this Lead Like Jesus devotion on Tuesday of this week and felt  it was such a thoughtful way to remember September 11, 2001 that I would just share this with all our readers as well.

 I challenge you to think about YOUR memorials and the legacy you will leave behind when Jesus calls you home. This is a great devotional newsletter to sign up for as well.

This is the second in a 2 part blog. Please read part 1 first.

Now that you know a little of my story, let me share some of the words others gave me that truly helped strengthen me daily and kept my focus stay on Christ.

 One friend sends out a daily devotional thought and this one truly ministered: "Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." - St. Francis de Sales. Thank you, Lord, for history with you that gives such strength to face the future! "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24) I began to pray daily for Him to point out my anxieties and allow His peace to prevail.

An email from a friend shared her prayers for us and then she included this:  I claimed Mark 11:22 for you.  "Have faith in God, for assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says, therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them." I do know that God is the mountain mover, and that He does it in His own timing.

Right after this happened and I had received the scripture above, another friend and leader at our YOU Lead event, said she prayed for that mountain to move, but God told her that I was to “minister through the mountain”! At least for now, and specifically at this YOU Lead event I was to minister through the situation. In all honesty, I had NOTHING to give. God knew that, even though I told Him to make sure. I also ask Him to accomplish His work His way in His strength because I was empty. The minute I began to greet and speak to these ladies at the training, it was as though the rest of the world faded away, and I only saw the attendees and the task at hand! Truly, I knew God had taken over.

I also read during this time somewhere, that God will move the mountain when it is in the way of His work! So, for now, I believe He wants to do His work through this mountain, even as He is meeting the needs of our family each and every day in amazing ways! 

Immediately after sharing our prayer requests, one friend sent this message: “I am praying for you. Be blessed and rest in God. I know your family crisis will bring glory to Him because I know you, my friend. Stay strong and stand firm, and know (though you may not be able to feel Him) that God is in your midst and is working on your behalf.” What words of encouragement I’ve read over and over from this precious friend.

And read this sweet note of encouragement from another friend: “Your message during the National Forum about challenges in life being like the waves and when we get past the waves we will go deeper with God than we ever have before was a message that was so timely for me.  I am praying that God refresh that message in your heart, bring to your mind and eyes the waves that you so enjoy while sitting at the beach and the message you shared last fall.  This is just another wave your family will survive and you will go deeper into the reservoirs of His grace again and will find it to be sufficient.” I had to say, Yes, Lord, may it be so! You know, we are called to practice what we preach, aren’t we? I needed this reminder right then…6 months after I shared the message!

Speaking of the women’s forum…I always listen to all the breakouts from the forum and had been doing that since the first of the year. In the spring, I got to a message by a workshop leader who is a personal friend of mine about her own journey of crisis and what God had taught her through it. It was about 2 weeks before our crisis started. Coincidence? No way. Preparation. I even thought, ok, Lord, smooth is about to end isn’t it? God made that one workshop fall into place at exactly the time I needed it. Once our crisis got even more difficult and the suicide had taken place, I listened two more times. I know I will keep and listen to it often.

When I emailed this friend about how it had ministered to me, this is what she wrote back: “Let me share one thing the Lord said to me yesterday in hopes that it will encourage you as it did me. I am reading/studying Isaiah and the Lord said: you cry out for deliverance from your difficulties, and I deliver you, then you've only been rescued and not victorious. I am training you to be equipped, armed and disciplined to fight the adversary but you pray to get out of training. I want you to win your battles not be excused from them.” 

I don’t know about you, but in the battles, although deliverance looks pretty good some days, I want to be victorious, not rescued! The thing is, I could have tried to get through this quietly and without sharing with friends and co-workers, but see how I’ve been ministered to because I couldn’t keep silent?

Leader, DON’T hide your struggles, although you should always use discretion, be willing to share your heart and your prayer requests with at least a few close sisters and prayer warriors. I want and need to know others are praying, and when they pray, they email words of encouragement that truly help me navigate each day in His strength and with my focus continually being pulled back to His face and His plan. 

May it be so for you as well, Sister. Remember this, ^“He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.” Psalms 91:4 (HCSB) 

A friend forwarded me this picture and it says to me:" He’s got you!"( Click on the picture to see the source!)

I am praying for you as you lead and as you face each difficult situation.

I want to do a 2 part blog on this topic, mainly because of where God has me personally in my own journey. Today I want to talk about how, as a leader, others can and will minister to us, IF we share our needs and allow them to come along side to pray and support. The following blog post will deal with some specific ways others ministered to me and how that has led me to minister to others.

When two of my prayer warriors sent me prayers early this year, they were letting me know what they would be praying for me as the 2011 began. These meant so much to me that I have read the almost every day this year as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and as a reminder of my sweet friends who are praying.

First, here are the prayers they emailed to me, in the order I received them early this year:

1.   From friend #1: I look forward to lifting you in prayer this coming year.  I am asking for a new excitement in the Lord for you.  I am asking that He gives you abundant wisdom to serve Him and bring Him glory.  I am asking that you have the best year of marriage (Note from Chris: this is our 40^th year of marriage!) ever and that your children and grandchildren will call you "blessed".

2.   From friend #2: Want to start the year off letting you know I am praying for you.  I pray that you will have exciting encounters with the Father, up close and personal.  I am praying that you will meet the challenges with power and confidence. And that you will have joy and power in every opportunity that the Father wants you to seize.  You are loved by Him, and me.

3.   From friend #1: Just wanted you to know I again lifted you to our Lord.  I continue to ask for a 'fresh love' for the work God has given you.  I prayed for you and your husband, claiming love, laughter and joy for your marriage.  I am asking our Lord to let your see Him in all that you do and recognize His work.  I know as you see His Hand in your life your love for Him will only deepen.  I ask that any distractions be swept away and your eyes will see Jesus more clearly today than yesterday.  Love you, friend.

4.   From friend #2: I know God is stretching you and I continue to pray that each and every thing He asks you to do is fresh and new in your heart as you begin.  Praying for a renewed love for those you work with everyday and asking God to let you see through His eyes the ministry He has given you.  

Now, in January I was coming off a really smooth year! I never take those times for granted, not do I think they will last forever, but I do enjoy them and thank God when I am enjoying them! I also knew that often I am much more desperate for Him in difficult times and even prayed that I might become more desperate for Him without a trial! But I really began the year, just wondering what God would do in 2010, knowing I had no idea, but knowing He would not allow anything He could not walk us through. In the spring, our smooth year did end, and we are in a very different place right now. Certainly not all bad, but certainly I am absolutely desperate for Him moment to moment.

I doubt anyone is ever prepared to face suicide of a family member, no matter the situation. Certainly we were not. Even though he and his wife were separated, and it was not a pretty separation, it completely shell-shocked us all. Three little girls’ lives hung in the balance, now to face life without a dad. No one had any idea if there was any insurance or a way for these girls mom to have the finances to face the future.

But may I say, because I have a history with Him, and as a leader have journeyed through various difficult experiences (and may I add, God never allowed me to step out of ministry during any of them!), I do not doubt in any way, His ability to give all we need for this journey. We are walking one day at a time, and even though I don’t “want” to be here, I can’t wait to see what God teaches us all through it. I know as the prayers above say, I will know Him more intimately and I will love Him more deeply, and I pray my faith will be stronger that it ever has been. Then, I pray God will use it to touch the lives of others.

So, first of all may I ask, as a leader, are you in a tough time in life, personally or in ministry? And if so, are you allowing those around you to know and to minister to you? Leaders, God does not expect you to only minister to the needs of other women, He provides others to surround you when you need support. Let them in! Share your needs, give specific prayer requests, give others the blessing of serving you!

Don’t miss this inspiring and informative web cast: Women’s Ministry in Transition with guest women’s ministry leaders Deb Douglas, Martha Lawley, Julie Woodruff, and LifeWay Women Event Project Coordinator Lauren Farmer on September 6, 12:00-1:00 PM Central Time. You will be able to send in questions to be addressed during the webcast.  Click here to register!

 Women's Ministry is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of women in our culture. Gain insights into simplifying the framework of discipleship that leads to transformational ministry.

Discuss the importance of assessing and encouraging spiritual growth as we prepare for Christ’s return. Join Chris Adams, Pam Case and Paige Greene as they  talk with some key women’s leaders as we deal with transition in our culture and ministries with women.

National Women's Leadership Forum