Honoring Him in something totally new

This week I was asked to be a guest blogger on a dear friends blog.  This was something very new for me, yet exciting as I am learning to write more and am enjoying it.  So this post shares a little bit about where my heart for women's ministries started.  May it honor Him as I share my heart. Enjoy!

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanders or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” Titus 2:3-5

God has brought some incredible women into my life as I am sure He has yours too.  But today I want to take a few moments and share where some of that all began.  God had called my husband into full time ministry and with that came moving away to seminary.  At the same time I had a toddler at home and a six week old baby.  With being a young mommy I was privileged to stay at home.  God moved us to a little community much like Mayberry, only more modern.  God moved us right next door to another young family and that mommy stayed home too with her babies.  That mommy also loved Jesus and she wanted to share all of Him with others.  So she invited me a ladies bible study that met each Wednesday for prayer and bible teaching.  With being the new girl around and feeling somewhat isolated I jumped on the opportunity for fellowship.  Little did I know that God would use that little bible study and many of those Titus Women to help take me into a deeper fellowship with Him. 

I had been a Christian already for ten years, but when I started to attend that bible study and grow in God’s Word I quickly realized my relationship with God was not what it could fully be.  I desired more of His Word and more of Him.  Those Titus Women were not super christians, they were simply normal women like you and me who loved Jesus with all the heart, mind, and soul.  Their desire was to teach and equip the younger women in holiness of heart and life. 

I had three Titus Women who invested in me.  One of these ladies in particular would call me each week and check in on me just because she cared.  I know she prayed for me daily and she always encouraged me with her phone calls and cards.  Another one let me come to her house each week for prayer time.  During our time together we would pour our hearts out before God together and He met us.  She never judged me of looked down on me because of my weaknesses.  Instead she loved me and challenged me to be who I was in Christ. The other one mentored me  week indirectly as she taught us through God’s Word.  There was something special about her that I long for, she had an intimacy with Jesus that was real.  I wanted that too.  So each week at our Titus Women’s meetings, I watched, listened, and learned. 

All three of these ladies were older women who were willing to train the younger women in the Lord.  I will always be eternally grateful for my neighbor’s invite and then those who invested in me. 

One of the major things that this bible study taught me was that God can use all ages of women in our lives.  I also learned that He wants each of us to do the same.  We all have to ask ourselves if we are willing to share all of Him with others.  Since being a part of Titus Women God has given me a deeper desire to connect with women.  He has given me a burden to share His love with women who are hurting and lost.  Are you burdened to see women find Jesus?  Are you willing to share with them like others shared with me?

Titus Women, a ministry of the Francis Asbury Society, are Christian women in fellowship one with another living in sacred fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and are committed to proclaiming the message of a holy heart — the incredible joy of knowing Jesus Christ personally and loving Him with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  For more information, visit them at http://www.tituswomensministry.org

New Continues....

Well of course it has been awhile since I last wrote, but that does not mean God has not been working.  I serve a God who is real.  He is faithful and He is true. Many of you know that change is often difficult for me.  I like routine and things to be in order so to speak.  But God has been refining me by teaching me to be more flexible and learning that He never changes.  Everyday there is something new. That is a given, but what about how we respond.  Monday I will be starting a new job.  I have done some substitute teaching for the past 2 years, but not an everyday kind of a job.  So that in and of itself is new to me and scary.  But what I like is that nothing about God has, nor will ever change.  Do you ever feel as though you are all alone in a big dark world?  I think if we were all honest we'd say we've all felt that way before.  But really if I didn't have God to turn to, trust in and rely on I would be lost. 

Can I challenge you?  There is a God who loves you more than you could ever imagine.  He loved you so much that He though you were worthy to die for so that one day you could join Him for eternity.  That is my God and He can be your God as well.  Whether it is through changes, challenges, or tragedies He always remains the same.  If you want to know more about this God of mine I'd love to talk with you about Him.  If you feel lost I would love to help you find your way.  He would like to do something new in you as well so that new can continue.

Still Learning the Same Thing

Recently I have been thinking about how I struggle with some of the same things over and over again.  Do you ever feel this way?  This summer I have been enjoying my time with my kids and having them home from school.  I truly feel blessed to be able to stay at home with them this summer.  We get to have all kinds of fun!  But just as my kids are still learning some of the same things over and over again I am too.  God has been so gracious and kind to me that when I come to Him each morning and ask for help with the same thing I asked for help on yesterday He still helps me.  He still offers Himself to me new every morning.  For that grace I am thankful.  Do you feel like you have been learning the same lesson for awhile now?  Well, don't give up.  His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is great.  So just like my kids will keep learning this summer I will too.  Learning is part of growing and growing is part of honoring Him.

He Makes All Things New

I recently went to Kansas City for our denomination’s general council meeting.  This was something new for me because I have not been able to go before with David.  But this year I was able to go for the whole week while my wonderful in-laws took care of our children.  During the week I was able to hear many wonderful and gifted people share.  But the one that stuck with me the most was a pastor who shared about the healing God had done in his physical body.  Now I won’t go into detail of his testimony but as he testified my eyes were opened to something new.  Our God is the Healer God.  He not only heals our emotional wounds, but He heals the physical ones too.  This man was testimony of that.  God has done so much healing in my life as well and continues to take me to a new and deeper place with Him.  It is a journey of pain just as this man testified his was, but it is all worth it.  What are you willing to submit to in order for God to do something new in you?  For me it’s been my plans, relationships, and my health just to name a few.  But to say it is all worth it I say yes.  What about you?  Share your thoughts with me and we can walk closer into something more deeper and beautiful. 

Still writing my story....

You might find this to be an interesting title for a post but I find it very fitting for where I am today.  God has sure done a lot of things in my life that I have wondered about.  I have wondered at times if He really knows what He is doing or if it is really necessary for me to have to go through something in particular.  But today I was reminded that God is still writing my story.  He is the author of my life and He is the One who is in charge.  I find great comfort this day in knowing that He does not waste anything.  He will use every bite of my journey for a His good purpose.  You know we wanted to go overseas as missionaries, but God closed that door a few years ago.  Then I really wondered why and what He was doing, but the further out I get I see and understand more.  But my story did not end there.  He is still writing it to this day and will till the day I go home to Him.