In this series of lessons (one, two, three ) from Joshua we are considering Joshua’s characteristics that made him a strong and usable leader for God’s Kingdom work. 

This post will take a look at Joshua’s ability to see the Big Picture.

In Joshua 1:2-5 (HCSB) God gave big picture to Joshua FIRST:

“Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.  Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you."

How easy is it for you as a women’s ministry leader to keep the big picture of what God is doing in and through the ministry He has called you to? When ministry gets hard, it’s easy to lose focus and forget why we do ministry. We tend to think when things aren’t going smoothly then we should turn another direction. Actually, sometimes that’s the case. But other times it’s the enemy seeking to roadblock God’s assignment in your life and ministry. And then it might just be immaturity on the part of some of the women you lead causing the problems.

No matter what the reason is, if God has clearly led you and called you to lead women, then even when it’s hard, you must remember what He called you to in the first place. Do you remember the excitement of leading women to accept Christ as their Savior? Of sharing the Word and seeing understanding in the eyes of the women you taught? Watching a group go on a mission trip for the first time and never being the same again? Helping a woman walk through a troubled marriage only to see it saved as you prayed and journeyed together?

Do you see the big picture of discipleship that makes it worth it to serve in tough places? If you are discouraged, go back to what God called you to do initially. Get the big picture of His Kingdom work in mind, then ask Him to help you stay true to that calling as you face obstacles in His power and for His glory.

Resources:

Called to Be God's Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby

Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg

Women Reaching Women

In this series of lessons (one, two ) from Joshua we are considering Joshua’s characteristics that made him a strong and usable leader for God’s Kingdom work. 

Today, let’s focus on the fact that Joshua was a student of God’s Word.

We see God speaking to Joshua in Joshua 1:7-8 (HCSB)  ^"Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.  This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.”

From the beginning, the promise of God’s support was based on Joshua’s faithful obedience to the Word of God. He meditated on it. If we are to follow God courageously and do all He asks us to do, we too must be passionate students of His Word. We meditate on it, which means we concentrate on it till we know what God is saying to us. Often we read out assignment for the day and go about our business never really focusing on what God is telling us specifically for that day.  We must stay in God’s presence till you know what His Word is saying to us! 

Often I listen to the Bible on CD in my car during my commute to and from my office in downtown Nashville. Numerous times God has spoken to me or made a point that I missed when I read the same passage. Sometimes I have to listen more than once to “get it”!

It’s not easy to set time aside to spend in God’s Word. I find that if I have a reading plan it helps me not only do it regularly, but it makes me even hungrier for the Word. Right now I am reading the Bible chronologically for the second year in a row. Last year I took part in a study with women at my church and served as a table hostess to several ladies as we did Iva May's Chronological Bible Discipleship plan. This year I am reading it on my own using Reader's Guide to the Bible: A Chronological Reading Plan by George Guthrie. I used the HCSB version last year and this year chose to use The Message.

I also always have a Bible study going on…having just finished James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore and am about to being Nehemiah: A Heart that Can Break by Kelly Minter. Additionally, I read several devotional books and online daily devotions. These do not take long at all and just keep me focused throughout the day on my walk with Christ no matter what I am doing.

If we teach the Bible, then we especially must be personally studying the Bible, not just preparing to teach others. We can’t take women where we aren’t heading!

Joshua knew the history of the Israelites and learned from Moses many of the laws and principles God taught. To succeed as we see Joshua did, we too must “carefully observe everything written in it.”

Resources:

Called to Be God's Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby

Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg

Women Reaching Women

In this series of lessons from Joshua we are considering Joshua’s characteristics that made him a strong and usable leader for God’s Kingdom work.  Make sure to read the first and second post in this series!

Today, let’s focus on his optimism though in the minority.

We see in an example of this in Numbers 14:7-8 when he said, “The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land. If the LORD is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. (HCSB) Joshua knew that if God has said it, it would happen if they would just obey.

But we see he was in the minority!  It was 10 to 2 and the majority overruled to the disobedience of God! They paid a high price as you can see if you continue reading that chapter. Sentence: 40 years in the desert and that generation dies out before they have a second chance to trust God and enter Canaan.

But Joshua stood firm and said, “Only don’t rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” Numbers 14:7-9 (HCSB)
   
It had to be difficult to stand up to that many who were terrified and tell them they were wrong. But he already believed what we read in Philippians 4:13 because he knew with God all things were possible.

As followers of Christ and women who are in leadership for Him, are we in the minority in our world?  We see more and more persecution in our world, even in our own communities. Are you standing up for Christ and His truth even if you are outnumbered?

Do we even experience being in the minority when serving with our Christian sisters in ministry? What do you do when you KNOW without a doubt God has said to do something…perhaps it’s making a change in the way you reach women, or perhaps like at my church a couple of years ago it means eliminating one ministry to make room for something “new” God was doing. Feelings were hurt and it was difficult, but the ones who knew God has said to consider it, stood strong.  Today, that moms ministry is stronger than ever and reaching more of our moms than before.

What is God asking you and your leaders to do? If He has made it clear, and it doesn’t go against Scripture, and it’s approached while submitting to the authority of your local church, then stand strong like Joshua and watch God do the work! 

This is just another lesson we learn from the life of Joshua…more to come!


Resources:

Called to Be God's Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby

Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg

Women Reaching Women

I don’t know if you can identify with guest blogger Margaret Kennedy , but I sure can.  Sometimes I pride myself on being a multitasker.  I pray that we can all heed Margaret’s  gentle reminders as we face this year of leading women and living life!

"Everywhere I Go, There I Am"...A saying I cross stitched some years ago that I used to describe myself back then.    Recently I found myself revisiting that statement and was saddened somewhat because I think it would have described my 2011.  Ever been somewhere in body, but somewhere else in mind and spirit?  There but not there?   Has your child ever looked at you and asked, “Mommy, are you listening to me?”  Or have you spent a rare date night with your hubby, only to realize at the end of the evening that you were there, but not really there?  I have missed some major moments with God,  some precious experiences with loved ones, and opportunities to minister to strangers  because I was there, but not there. Oh, we women’s leaders pride ourselves at being great multi-taskers. I wonder if God does?  Maybe you, like me, spent a good deal of time rushing through one family or ministry activity to get to another one.   Hurrying to get children undressed, through the bath, and into the bed so that I could find time to fold clothes, wash dishes, plan one more meeting or event for women, etc.  In the first chapter o labels this feeling “Discontentment”.  If not rushing through the moment, I often found myself worrying through the moment.   The Greek word for worry means “to divide the mind”.  Anxiety splits our energy between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s problems.  Part of our mind is on the now and part of our mind is on the not yet and the result is half-minded living. 

God has reminded me that if I become habited to this way of life, I will not only miss moments, but I will miss days and even years that will never be mine again.  My granddaughter drove herself to school yesterday for the first time; just yesterday it seems she was driving her Barbie jeep.  Life will not stand still for us to slow down or wait for us to finish worrying.  It will move on with or without our being there!

So, ladies, let us adopt this motto for 2012 and mean it:  “Everywhere I go; there I will be!”

Margaret Kennedy is a Biblical retreat and conference speaker, who also has a call for mentoring young women on her life.  She teaches a ladies class in her local church, which has been aired on a secular station for several years.  She has also had a daily radio program called “Threads of Hope” on a local Christian station.  She has been married to Ross for 18 years, and has 2 grown sons and 5 grandchildren.   She served many years as a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier and co-authored of Heart Friends: Beginning and Maintaining a Small Accountability Group.

I recently spoke with Suzie Lind about her women's ministry at King's Harbor Church and wanted to share with you her insight on  developing an atmosphere of authenticity to bring about transformation in women’s lives. Read her guest blog post and consider her 5 suggestions below.
 

Women’s Ministry in the local Church, now more than ever, can be a place for women to experience life transformation and Christian community while learning to live like Jesus.  As we are challenged to compete for the time women have in their increasingly busy schedules we must contend to offer opportunities with substantial value.  The women we are attempting to reach are craving more authenticity in community and those who are serious about God desire to faithfully apply the Scriptures to their lives.  With that in mind, there is an increasing reluctance to attend superficial social gatherings where they are forced to hide or live up to a churchy standard they can no longer attain. 

The challenges many leaders face are folding in reluctant participants or the even more formidable task of assisting them in moving past the surface once they are there.  Often, women will say they crave “more” but are less than willing to give more of themselves.

Creating a culture of authenticity is initiated by strong leadership.  Ideally it begins with the Lead Pastor of the Church and within the context of women’s ministry is established by the lead woman and her surrounding team.  A culture of authenticity becomes a safe place for women to tell and glean from stories of where they have been and how God is using joy and sorrow to draw them unto Himself.  God has a very specific design for our authenticity. One that is crucial for understanding and leading women to the place He would have them dwell. 

In the book of Revelation, John tells of a war breaking out in Heaven where those who found victory “overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11).  When we stand before others clothed solely with the word of our testimony, leaving off our “church face” and putting on truth, the real stories of our real lives emerge.  It is then that those we are surrounded by, the company of women, will truly see the Jesus who has overcome sin and death. Only then do we bring glory to God. 

Glory to God.  This is His purpose for women and His plan for our lives. 

If you are struggling to lead and nurture the women in your ministry into a culture of authenticity, consider:

1.    You go first.  You cannot lead people where you are not willing to go yourself. Tell your story. The down and dirty details are not as important as the big picture.  Tell your story and keep the scope of God’s redemption in the forefront.

2.    Safety.  Create a safe place for women to share.  Direct your gatherings with the help of other leaders.  Communicate why this is sacred ground. Train your leaders to pray, shepherd conversations as needed and encourage women to refrain from giving advice or opinions.

3.    Grace.  Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).  If Jesus did not condemn, neither should you or the women hearing the story.  All of us judge and condemn in our hearts, even when we do not want to. Thankfully with prayer and God’s help, you can lead your women by encouraging a spirit of love, grace and compassion.

4.    Develop a prayer team.  A team who prays for women to be released from bondage. When we tell our stories not only are we are set free, we partner with God in releasing others from bondage.  A prayer team that is there to pray before and after women give testimony will alleviate the condemnation, shame and fear that can follow.

5.    After care.  When people tell their stories, they often feel vulnerable in the after-math.  Our adversary does not want us telling of God’s redemptive power and when we testify, we draw our swords against him.  Women need support, encouragement and prayer after they open up.

By creating a culture of authenticity, we create room to see God do what only He can do. Heal the broken hearted, setting the captives free as we proclaim the wonder of the Gospel.

Resources:
Women Reaching Women
Transformed Lives

Suzie is the Women's Pastor at King's Harbor Church in Torrance, CA. At any given moment, and “in” just about every moment, she is teacher, mom, wife, leader, speaker, student, diaper changer, and writer. Her joys, gleanings and moments of sheer lunacy are birthed out of all these roles. Her greatest joy is soaking up the truths and revelations of God’s word and sharing them with others through teaching Bible Study and writing on her blog, Hemmed In. Suzie lives in San Pedro with her husband Steve and four boys, Jason (10), Silas (8), Judah (6) and Nathan (7 months).  They also have a dog, a girl named Marley.

It’s so hard in today's world to be "set apart'' as women who reflect Christ in their daily lives. But women of today are hungry for this truth. Join authors Mary Kassian and Carolyn McCulley as we learn how we as leaders can teach women to go against the grain in our world today to reflect biblical principles of womanhood.

Join us for this FREE webcast & live chat on February 21, 2012 at  12:00 PM (Central Time).

Click here to view the live stream!

In this series of lessons from Joshua I want us to look at Joshua’s characteristics that made him a strong and usable leader for God’s Kingdom work.  Make sure to read the first post in this series!

Let’s consider first that he was a loyal follower.  Skim the book of Joshua and see if you notice this pattern. 

·    He went at Moses’ instruction to spy out the land of Canaan the first time around!  (Num. 14)

·    He fought the Amalekites as a soldier serving under Moses. (Ex. 17:9-10)

He did as Moses directed and learned from his strong leader. We begin leading by being good followers. How can we be effective leaders if we do not learn and follow our leaders first? And no matter how long we lead, we still need to be learning from others and submitting to leadership God places over us. The same principle applies to teaching the Bible. We cannot be the kind of teachers God uses if we are not willing to sit in on a Bible study first. I am continually reminded that the more I learn in Scripture, the more I still don’t know. I, too, need to be IN a Bible study setting where I am not the teacher.

Secondly, Joshua was also a humble servant. Look in Exodus 24:13 and Exodus 33:11 to see how he served Moses as his assistant and the guard of the “tent of meeting”. Joshua didn’t choose to be Moses’ assistant, God chose him.

Look back at Numbers 27:15-21. This passage occurs about the time Moses is going to die and he commissions Joshua to take over as leader. We never see Joshua seeking to climb a ladder of success or pursue a path in leadership; he served Moses because that was his assignment from God. That is what sustained him in hard times.

Today people plan and scheme their way to the “top” and we applaud them for being hard workers, ambitious, industrious. We too can be vulnerable to this type of problem. Perhaps we start out serving at God’s appointment, but then we begin to push forward trying to break down doors God has not opened. We definitely want larger territories to serve Him, but we do not need to get ahead of Him to “make it happen”. If we continually have to break down doors to serve, speak, write, lead, whatever we love doing in ministry, maybe we need to get on our knees and ask God to clarify our calling.  Jeff Iorg has written a great book called Is God Calling Me. I highly recommend all leaders to read it.

An unknown author once said, “Don’t expect God to make you a lighthouse somewhere else, if you can’t be a candle where you are.” We need to be a humble servant where God has is right now and watch to see where He leads next.

Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. (Luke 16:10 HCSB) God will honor our faithfulness as we serve Christ humbly day by day. Even with success Joshua didn’t ever have an inflated ego. And he always gave God the credit.  Check out these verses as examples: Joshua 3:5, 4:23, 23:3-4, 24:17-18.  Even at the end of his life, he only took his land allotment after he’d handed out all the rest to the other tribes! (Joshua 19)

Let’s follow Joshua’s loyalty as a follower and humility as a servant to pattern our own leadership character.  Watch for more lessons from Joshua! 



Resources:

Called to Be God's Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby

Is God Calling Me, Jeff Iorg

Women Reaching Women

 

This time of year everywhere you look you see pink, red, & white along with all kinds of hearts and cupids…candy, cards, flowers, and lots of “junk” you can buy for those you love.  SO, let’s turn that love focus toward the women in our church and in our local area of influence.

Who are those women?  And which ones are hard to love? What do they look like? How do they talk? Are they different from you in culture, color, background and/or experience? What about personality, passions and spiritual gifts?

What are some things you can do to show love to that one in your ministry or even on your leadership team who is hardest to love?

1.      Pray for her daily asking God’s richest blessings on her life, family and ministry.

2.      Connect with her as soon as possible to let her know you are thinking about and praying for her. Ask her how you can pray specifically.

3.      Ask her what God is up to in her life right…what is He teaching her?

4.      Have her share what she is most passionate about when it comes to serving Christ.

5.      Find a way to help her minister to those in the church and community, out of that passion God has instilled in her heart.

6.      Become her greatest cheerleader as she serves.

7.      If things get difficult, continue to pray and do not allow the enemy to have any victory.

8.      Have your accountability partner pray for you as well as you navigate this tough relationship.

9.      Let Christ love her through you!

10.   Praise Him for what He has and continues to do to allow you to serve with and love her.

How do you show love in tough relationships?

Resources:

Loving Well

Guest blogger, Dr. Deb Douglas, is the Minister to Women, First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA . She wrote this article our of her own experience with women in her church who have had an abortion. Be sure to watch the web cast recordings of Surrendering the Secret Part 1 & 2 with Pat Layton as you reach out to these hurting women.

Women with post-abortion trauma may already be in your church, or they could be seeking help in your community, and maybe yours is the church to which they turn. If God is leading you toward reaching out to these women in particular, here are some tips to guide you in this ministry.  Pray, asking God to direct your steps in understanding the hearts of women experiencing post-abortion trauma.

·    Make a commitment to be a part of the healing and reconciliation process in the lives of women who have had an abortion.
·    Invite a post-abortive woman who has dealt with and overcome the guilt, shame, and consequences of abortion to speak at a specific women's event. Contact your local Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC) for names of speakers in your area.
·    Educate yourself on post-abortive syndrome.
·    Begin one-on-one ministering to any women in your church struggling with this, pairing women who struggle with post-abortive syndrome and mature Christian women in your church.

Equip Yourself
If you haven't looked at the topic of abortion in-depth, now's the time to do a little research. But even more importantly, if you haven't examined your own attitudes toward those who have had abortions, now is the time to look at those too. Ask God to prepare your heart to reach out to these ladies.

Four key steps to take as you prepare to minister are:
1.    Analyze personal feelings and convictions toward abortion.
2.    Realize many women have abortions without realizing the consequences of their actions.
3.    Recognize we have all sinned.
4.    Understand abortion causes long-term effects.

Not only do you need to know more about abortion itself, but you also must consider the effects it has on women who have abortions. Become informed of the effects of abortion so you can be sensitive to the needs of these women. This doesn't have to be a dissertation - even a quick search on the Internet results in a wealth of information.

Equip Other Women to Serve
If your women's ministry is developing specific efforts to reach out to post-abortive women, you can't bear that burden alone. Educate the ladies in your church on how they can help.
·    Keep the women of the church informed by making up-to-date information on post-abortion trauma and the effects of abortion available.
·    When appropriate and possible, privately ask women who have had abortions to share their testimonies publicly with your ladies.
·    Plan a women's ministry trip to the National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga, Tenn.
·    Develop a relationship with a local CPC. Discover what services and help are offered for women dealing with post-abortion trauma.
·    Involve women in opportunities to minister in the crisis pregnancy field. For example, you could participate in Walk for Life, take part in CPC fund-raising and banquets, and lead Bible studies.
·    Have a baby shower or diaper collection for the local CPC.

A Final Note
All this may look fairly predictable from a distance, but if you've never known someone who has had an abortion and has struggled with post-abortion trauma, it may hit you harder than you anticipate. That's why you must go back to the foundation of prayer.Pray that God would prepare you to serve these ladies with genuine love and compassion. Try not to look shocked when women with post-abortion syndrome share. And remember, you don't have to minister alone. Don't be afraid to encourage ladies to seek professional post-abortion counseling.Be patient with these ladies, as healing and grieving take time. Listen with sympathy and compassion. Remind women that God forgives. Encourage women by sharing Scripture as the Lord leads you. Stay in constant communication with Him, and let Him minister to others through your willing heart.

Dr. Deb Douglas,  is the Minister to Women, First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA   and also serves as one of our LifeWay Ministry Multipliers. Deb launched her first women's Bible study at the age of 20. Her passion is encouraging and equipping women to serve. She is the Minister to Women at FBC Bossier City and a conference/retreat speaker, strategic planning consultant, and freelance writer.  Deb graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts in Christian Education/Women's Ministry and a Doctor of Education in Ministry degree from NOBTS. She is the wife of Paul, mom of Jared and Katie, and mother-in-law to Emily.

Resources:
Surrendering the Secret Webcast Part 1
Surrendering the Secret Webcast Part 2
Surrendering the Secret Kit
Women Reaching Women in Crisis
A Trusted Friend When It Matters Most
Transformed Lives

Guest blogger Lorie Looney Keene shares a fresh thought about mentoring…perhaps something you haven’t thought about!  Perhaps after reading this you will think about using your church nursery as a place for mentoring others!

My church has experienced a recent outbreak of pregnancies.  Many of my friends, as well as myself, will be having another child in 2012.  It begin with just a couple ‘special announcements’ and began to spread seemingly everywhere.  So much so, that we are actually in the process of moving our church nursery to accommodate the impending arrivals. :)

We are all very excited about the arrival of these new mini members, and I have been very blessed to see people begin to step up and take on more nursery duties at church.  Typically, I have seen nursery workers to be young mothers doing there expected volunteer service and teenagers who enjoy playing with the babies. What has impressed me the most at my current church, however, is the number of senior adult women who are willingly signing up for ‘diaper duty.’

Some of these ladies have grandchildren of their own. Others, have none. A few have children who live out of town. A couple have family close by.  Regardless of their varied personal experiences, they are all volunteering to come rock babies who, for the most part, have no physical tie to them.  This is not a mandated duty. But rather, one motivated out of love.

I am thrilled by this, because it allows the moms a chance to sit and rock nearby seasoned mothers who usually can’t wait to get their hands on your baby. It is an added comfort to see your little one nestle up to a worn lap who has cradled many children and be held by hands who lovingly pat them to sleep.  This time also allows a natural environment for mentoring to occur. 

Titus 2 encourages women to teach other women how to love their children. Such an environment allows that teaching to occur without having to always use words. A gentle touch, a reminder that someone understands your exhaustion, a smile at the perfect time aides in teaching ‘younger’ moms that they are neither alone in the process of raising their children, as well as, they have women around them who love them.

If your church nursery does not currently include a span of ages in its workers, consider requesting that senior adult women (who are physically capable) volunteer some of their time. Some ideas for ways to recruit them are:

 1.  Remind them of how important they are to young mothers.  Just because they have raised their children, they are still needed as mentors.

2. Encourage them to use their ability to rock a baby, feed a baby or simply be an adult presence in the room is very valuable.

3. Share with them the precious opportunity God may be giving them to befriend a young mother and pass on their experiences in mothering.

Lorie Looney Keene earned both a Masters of Divinity in Christian Education and a Masters of Theology (Th.M) from Southern Seminary, where she worked for three years as The Assistant Director of Women's Programs.  Prior to working at Southern Seminary, Lorie served in Poland with the International Mission Board and has over seven years experience as an ER nurse.  She is the author of "Pull Up A Chair: You Me, and the Gospel of John" by New Hope Publishing, as well as a contributing author to Journey Magazine  . Lorie lives in Tullahoma, TN where her husband, Stephen is the Youth/Education Minister at Highland Baptist Church . She is a Sunday School teacher to HighSchool girls, leads a weekly women's Bible study and teaches Biology at her church's homeschool co-op.  Currently, Lorie is enjoying the role of stay at home mom to her 2 year old son, Elijah.

As a leader I am fascinated with Joshua’s leadership style. If you scan the book of Joshua, you see many incredible leadership principles that can impact our own areas of influence. He was the second to lead the Israelites. Moses of course was the first and he had died at this point but before he died, he commissioned Joshua to take over and continue the path to Canaan that God had promised His followers. Joshua, a descendant of slaves,  had trained under Moses’ leadership and Moses’ legacy lived on partially because of it.

Have you noticed the influence he had?  Check out Joshua 24:29-31. This passage comes after Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the land had been distributed among the tribes and after the renewal of their covenant with God.

The main thing we see in this is that “throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua, Israel worshipped God!" That’s influence that lives on. What he learned from Moses was lived out during his lifetime and then passed on to leaders who followed.

Do you see a pattern of leadership legacy here? Throughout the Psalms we see the idea of leaving behind a legacy that will touch generations yet to be born! Now, consider your leadership…is the influence you have something you want to pass on to others and then leave behind after you are gone?

Watch for this new series on Leadership Lessons from Joshua that will be posted on this blog. Pray and ask God what you can learn from the life and legacy of Joshua.

Resources:

Called to Be God's Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby

Women Reaching Women

I was recently reading a blog post by Jenni Catron  who is actually right here in Nashville and will be on one of our web casts later this year and wanted to share her message with you. If you ever felt your passion for ministry waning this will be an encouragement to you.

 This was the comment I made on Jenni’s post:

"Jenni, this is so true. I remember the first time I lost my passion for leading women's ministry. I just thought God was done with me in that area of service. I even began making plans for the change, but in seeking God He never would let me leave where I was serving. But during that time of desperation for Him when nothing was making sense nor did anything seem to be getting accomplished, He brought me to a new level of trust with Him and dependence. I remember one older man who worked on the same floor I was on saying, "God doesn't always call us to be fulfilled but He calls us to be faithful." I went to talk to him about it and walked away understanding what you are saying here about obedience even if the passion is not there. I believe in time, when we are faithful and obedient, we will ultimately be fulfilled in the eternal scheme of things, and that God brings back the passion in one way or the other, assuring us He's not done with us yet, OR He will move us into another way of doing ministry He has called us to do."

Leaders, when you feel the passion diminishing and yet you know you are being obedient keep stayingin His Word and ask Him daily to allow you to know Him better than you did the day before, love Him better than you did and serve more obediently than you ever have. He will answer!

You can read more about Jenni here. Watch for details about the December 12 web cast with Jenni Catron, Executive Director of Cross Point Church, Nashville, TN and founder of Cultivate Her, and author and women's ministry leader at LifeChurch.tv - OKC Campus Cindy Beall