Have you ever just wanted to know what your "calling" in life was? You know, that certain occupation your were predestined to do. The activity where you find fulfillment. Your perfect fit. Your passion.
As I consider my "calling", it seems that my passion is, in general, women's ministry. And, again, I find that total immersion is the only option for me. Not because I need something to fill my time and consume my energy, but because I have found that serving God with all my capabilty is the only place I find perfect satisfaction.
In the last few months I knew that God was challenging me to leave my current occupation, real estate. God has been very good to Husband and I through this vocation. He has met many financial needs in this way. However, I had become increasingly unsatisfied and even irritable as I worked with my clients doing tasks that in the past had been pleasurable for me. So, as an opportunity was presented to me to have a lead in our women's ministry at my church, in a complete attitude of prayer, I humbly accepted the challenge that God had set before me.
So, even though inadequacy haunts me and an unworthiness troubles me, God, in all His sufficiency has promised good to me. My prayer is that our WM will be His ministry. I long for other women to find their passion and come along side me and forge new ways to enable our peers at church and in our community to experience the LORD God, know Him, love Him, worship Him, cede to Him.
"And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant(Me) and the cause of his people Israel(You) according to each day's need, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other." I Kings 8:59-60
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Why Do We Go To Church Sunday and Wednesday Nights? (and why do we feel guilty when we don't)
I must answer this simply from my personal desires and needs. When my family was looking for a church about a year ago one of our first desires was that our new church would have Sunday p.m. and Wed p.m. services. It was more difficult to find churches that had these services than those that had ceased their worship at these times. We desire these times with other believers because of our need to be taught, encouraged, and lifted up more than just once a week.
If my desire is to be less like this world and more like Christ, I must spend extra time with like minded Christians who remind me that this world is not my home and that I shouldn’t fit in with it. My human nature tells me constantly that I can have both, this world and Christ. But that is a lie. So, when I go to see my Christian family I hear and see Truth more clearly.
I love Sunday and Wednesday nights. That is when most of the people who are there are serious about their walk and those are the people I need. I hunger for learning from them and experiencing Christ with them. Worshipping with them moves me. Sunday mornings are great, too, but Sunday p.m. worship is more intimate and personal for me.
When I miss, I don’t feel guilty, and neither should you. I think when we feel guilty, it is because of what we believe others might think of us. I am not keeping score, are you?
If my desire is to be less like this world and more like Christ, I must spend extra time with like minded Christians who remind me that this world is not my home and that I shouldn’t fit in with it. My human nature tells me constantly that I can have both, this world and Christ. But that is a lie. So, when I go to see my Christian family I hear and see Truth more clearly.
I love Sunday and Wednesday nights. That is when most of the people who are there are serious about their walk and those are the people I need. I hunger for learning from them and experiencing Christ with them. Worshipping with them moves me. Sunday mornings are great, too, but Sunday p.m. worship is more intimate and personal for me.
When I miss, I don’t feel guilty, and neither should you. I think when we feel guilty, it is because of what we believe others might think of us. I am not keeping score, are you?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Women's Ministries
I guess I feel I just need express my opinion about Women's Ministries (WM) and their role in the early 21st century church. I know it sounds academic, but, this is really merely my own personal ponderings. I may really be off the mark, so let me know if I need to change my view.
I have been intimately involved in WM for 23 years. I have started ministries, served as a team member, led them, and faithfully supported and attended organizations that others have built. I freely admit that when I first began the arduous task of building the first WM I would be involved with, I was young, at an adolescent church, and I had no experience in this area. Even with these obstacles, this group of women understood their need for community. Not just any community, but a sisterhood of like minded Christians who needed each other to encourage one another in our sojourn. We ministered together to others outside our church, met together to serve one another, and ultimately our church benefitted. Of course, this position was voluntary.
As the years have passed, our family has changed and so have the churches we have attended. I have served on a team or led the WM at every church we have belonged. The ministry that I remember with the most fondness was, suprisingly, not the largest church we joined (300). It did eventually grow to be rather large (1500 in attendance of each Sunday morning). I was paid staff at this church. I had a volunteer team of 8, and they had teams of their own that successfully engineered and executed their segment of the ministry with a creativity I could never have generated myself.
In my experience, and I will agree it is limited, most churches (of any denomination) do not have a WM staff position. The job of WM leader is expected to be filled by a volunteer. Most churches will express their desire to have a WM, but, realistically, if no one steps up to do the job, our churches will wait for someone to "feel" the need to organize activities for the women, especially since it is a volunteer position. Each volunteer tends to have their favorite activity to support, so as the leaders change, so does the personality of the ministry. Now, this is true of most positions, however, in ministry at a church whose foundation is the Bible, we really should have a cornerstone of Bible study for WM no matter who is in leadership.
So, now I must ask myself (and you) these questions:
*Why isn't WM a necessary component in our church?
*Is WM just a nice, additional activity for us to put in our bulletins on Sunday to show how much we have going on?
*If we are going to spend millions on our children and youth ministries (and I believe this is the right thing to do), will we be satisfied for these women to just drop their children off and leave our parking lot? (Our numbers say that this is happening)
*Why don't we find a professional WM leader and include that position on our church staff so we can have an effective ministry that affects over half our attendees, and, in turn, benefits our church as a whole? (On any given Sunday over half of the adults in attendance are women).
To conclude, I love my church. My desire is for us not to follow trends in the 21st century church, but to create them. Effective trends that will affect our world for Christ. That is why we are here.
I have been intimately involved in WM for 23 years. I have started ministries, served as a team member, led them, and faithfully supported and attended organizations that others have built. I freely admit that when I first began the arduous task of building the first WM I would be involved with, I was young, at an adolescent church, and I had no experience in this area. Even with these obstacles, this group of women understood their need for community. Not just any community, but a sisterhood of like minded Christians who needed each other to encourage one another in our sojourn. We ministered together to others outside our church, met together to serve one another, and ultimately our church benefitted. Of course, this position was voluntary.
As the years have passed, our family has changed and so have the churches we have attended. I have served on a team or led the WM at every church we have belonged. The ministry that I remember with the most fondness was, suprisingly, not the largest church we joined (300). It did eventually grow to be rather large (1500 in attendance of each Sunday morning). I was paid staff at this church. I had a volunteer team of 8, and they had teams of their own that successfully engineered and executed their segment of the ministry with a creativity I could never have generated myself.
In my experience, and I will agree it is limited, most churches (of any denomination) do not have a WM staff position. The job of WM leader is expected to be filled by a volunteer. Most churches will express their desire to have a WM, but, realistically, if no one steps up to do the job, our churches will wait for someone to "feel" the need to organize activities for the women, especially since it is a volunteer position. Each volunteer tends to have their favorite activity to support, so as the leaders change, so does the personality of the ministry. Now, this is true of most positions, however, in ministry at a church whose foundation is the Bible, we really should have a cornerstone of Bible study for WM no matter who is in leadership.
So, now I must ask myself (and you) these questions:
*Why isn't WM a necessary component in our church?
*Is WM just a nice, additional activity for us to put in our bulletins on Sunday to show how much we have going on?
*If we are going to spend millions on our children and youth ministries (and I believe this is the right thing to do), will we be satisfied for these women to just drop their children off and leave our parking lot? (Our numbers say that this is happening)
*Why don't we find a professional WM leader and include that position on our church staff so we can have an effective ministry that affects over half our attendees, and, in turn, benefits our church as a whole? (On any given Sunday over half of the adults in attendance are women).
To conclude, I love my church. My desire is for us not to follow trends in the 21st century church, but to create them. Effective trends that will affect our world for Christ. That is why we are here.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Church Home
Do you have a church home? Those very words "church home" evoke a sentimental warmness in me. Church: a place to worship, learn, fellowship, serve. Home: a place to retreat to safety and significance. (Don't try to find these definitions in a dictionary. They are my own characterization.) Put those two together and your church home could be the ideal place to find yourself a few days a week.
Yesterday morning as I was preparing physically and mentally to go to my church home, I was overwhelmed by a sense of sadness for many of my friends and family who don't have a church home right now. I know exactly how they feel, like a nomad wandering about, looking for good pasture for your sheep. The task is daunting because what we seek is all the positive we had at our old church, then we add to that list, the improvements we thought needed to be made so that it would have been "my own perfect church home". Our kids need to enjoy going, we need to like the music, and the preacher better be biblical, interesting, challenging, and caring. Are the members friendly? Do they have too much debt? How long does it take me to get there? My list went on and on and on. All of these things are so important, but, can any church meet all this criteria?
My prayer for all of you who have no church home is that you will continue looking no matter how frustrating it may be. And, in your search, simply seek the LORD. We know that no man (church) will ever meet our wants and needs fully, only the Father can. He can call you to worship, teach you, give you a spot to serve, and provide significance and security to your soul, all in a place that is not ideal and never will be. Churches are not perfect but the Father is.
Yesterday morning as I was preparing physically and mentally to go to my church home, I was overwhelmed by a sense of sadness for many of my friends and family who don't have a church home right now. I know exactly how they feel, like a nomad wandering about, looking for good pasture for your sheep. The task is daunting because what we seek is all the positive we had at our old church, then we add to that list, the improvements we thought needed to be made so that it would have been "my own perfect church home". Our kids need to enjoy going, we need to like the music, and the preacher better be biblical, interesting, challenging, and caring. Are the members friendly? Do they have too much debt? How long does it take me to get there? My list went on and on and on. All of these things are so important, but, can any church meet all this criteria?
My prayer for all of you who have no church home is that you will continue looking no matter how frustrating it may be. And, in your search, simply seek the LORD. We know that no man (church) will ever meet our wants and needs fully, only the Father can. He can call you to worship, teach you, give you a spot to serve, and provide significance and security to your soul, all in a place that is not ideal and never will be. Churches are not perfect but the Father is.
Monday, April 02, 2007
I'm In
Count me in. I've joined. I'm in for the long haul. You can count on me. "Count on you for what?", you may ask. To serve the body of believers and the community at the church we joined this weekend.
I must admit that this was a difficult decision for our family, Husband, 18, 16, and me. We have a lot of history at our old church. And, even though there was no doubt that it was right to leave it, we long for the old days. But, today, we will put all that behind us and press on here. We will jump in with both feet and completely immerse ourselves in the "new" ministry. Actually, the ministry is not new at all even though it may take on new forms. The basic ministry we know that is important is sharing, with the world, what has changed our lives, fulfilled us, given us hope and a future (for eternity). The reality is that these people at our new church are basically strangers and here I am committing myself to a life work with them. Does that make sense?
Some questions that address that very issue were posed to me a few days ago and I have pondered them and included them here because I think that you, too, should consider your answers. Here are those questions and my reply.
Questions: Can I love God passionately and his people at arms length? Do I have to open up to these strangers to really love them? Does honesty equal transparency? Is transparency really a virtue or a weakness?
Reply: The answers are not easy to say aloud because I think true ministry is a result of honestly sharing ourselves with others to the point that they can see what we are passionate about. If others cannot see who we really are, we cannot share our passion, nor maybe even acknowledge our passion to ourselves.
I began to inquire of myself this past week if I really needed to live a life more than that of obscurity or mediocrity. Why not? Why not just be faithful to my husband, children, grandchildren, etc? Could that be so wrong? And then I heard “AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS!” This life I live is not about me and my comfort zone, it is about me living a life of thrilling abundance (life on the edge) so that “others may know that He is the LORD God and there is no other!” (1Kings 8:59-60)
I was reminded that I owe that to Him, He is my Redeemer. To God be the glory! I should give Him my all.
I must admit that this was a difficult decision for our family, Husband, 18, 16, and me. We have a lot of history at our old church. And, even though there was no doubt that it was right to leave it, we long for the old days. But, today, we will put all that behind us and press on here. We will jump in with both feet and completely immerse ourselves in the "new" ministry. Actually, the ministry is not new at all even though it may take on new forms. The basic ministry we know that is important is sharing, with the world, what has changed our lives, fulfilled us, given us hope and a future (for eternity). The reality is that these people at our new church are basically strangers and here I am committing myself to a life work with them. Does that make sense?
Some questions that address that very issue were posed to me a few days ago and I have pondered them and included them here because I think that you, too, should consider your answers. Here are those questions and my reply.
Questions: Can I love God passionately and his people at arms length? Do I have to open up to these strangers to really love them? Does honesty equal transparency? Is transparency really a virtue or a weakness?
Reply: The answers are not easy to say aloud because I think true ministry is a result of honestly sharing ourselves with others to the point that they can see what we are passionate about. If others cannot see who we really are, we cannot share our passion, nor maybe even acknowledge our passion to ourselves.
I began to inquire of myself this past week if I really needed to live a life more than that of obscurity or mediocrity. Why not? Why not just be faithful to my husband, children, grandchildren, etc? Could that be so wrong? And then I heard “AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS!” This life I live is not about me and my comfort zone, it is about me living a life of thrilling abundance (life on the edge) so that “others may know that He is the LORD God and there is no other!” (1Kings 8:59-60)
I was reminded that I owe that to Him, He is my Redeemer. To God be the glory! I should give Him my all.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Expectation
I am spending the weekend with some new friends. Usually I anticipate new experiences with great expectation and joy. I love new and different. But, for some reason, today I am hesitant. Tenative, not because the new experience is dreaded, but, because in my heart somewhere I think I may need a rest from all the change that has taken place over the last year. Lots of new events are occurring in my life, all good. New friends, new church, well, new "everything" as far as relationships go (other than my immediate family). New goals, new expectations. I think what may make me hesitate to want these changes is not that they aren't better for me, it's just that I really liked my old "everything".
I still have those old relationships and friends, they are different, though, because we don't have our regular routine anymore. We are trying to figure out how to have them in a different context. We don't study much together any longer or discuss what we are learning as often anymore. These times are becoming fewer and farther between and that is truly sad.
I want to want to move on. I desire to have what is the absolute best for me. I need reviving. That is what I will anticipate for this weekend, renewal, regeneration, rejuvenation, replenishing. That is what I am asking for, Lord, new revelation of You.
I still have those old relationships and friends, they are different, though, because we don't have our regular routine anymore. We are trying to figure out how to have them in a different context. We don't study much together any longer or discuss what we are learning as often anymore. These times are becoming fewer and farther between and that is truly sad.
I want to want to move on. I desire to have what is the absolute best for me. I need reviving. That is what I will anticipate for this weekend, renewal, regeneration, rejuvenation, replenishing. That is what I am asking for, Lord, new revelation of You.
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