What I'm Reading
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Small Group Blog Share
The LifeWay Women’s Leadership Forum was this past week Thursday-Friday (join us sometime!!) and I have a speaking engagement on Saturday. Since time is short, I’m sharing some small group helps for you leaders! 1 This first post is from LifeWay Research. Sign up to receive their updates! This article has some great tips for enlisting small group leaders. 13 Principles for Enlisting Group Leaders 2 This next post, also from LifeWay Research, shares how to create great icebreaker questions. 6 Elements of a Good Icebreaker Question 3 The last post from Vanderbloemen is how to lead not-so-great small groups! 5 Characteristics Of Lame Small Groups 4 Whether you are…
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Leader Blog Share
This week I want to share some helpful blog posts for you as a leader. As you serve and lead teams, you must invest in your own growth and in your leadership skills to lead well. 1 This first post is from Ron Edmonson. It’s a great assessment of how you lead or whether you frustrate your teams. 7 Ways to Frustrate Your Team as a Leader 2 This second post is by Charles Stone. We all want to connect well with our team and others we lead in the church. Here’s some great tips to consider as you serve. How to Be a Likable Leader 3 This last post…
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Cast…Because He Cares
How many times has someone said something, or you read a quote, and it stopped you in your tracks? I love to read and I read a lot! I also love to listen to podcasts and attend conferences to continue to grow as a person and especially as a follower of Christ. Years ago I began collecting quotes so I wouldn’t lose them and decided to share these on my blog in a new series I’m calling Favorite Quotes. So, here is the first: If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust Him for your soul and not for your body? He has never refused…
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From Garden to Garden
In finishing up my current D-group with a special celebration, we discussed the end of the Bible as we read through Revelation. I’m not surprised anymore by new things God reveals through reading His Word over and over. Sometimes it’s something completely new to me, or understood at a deeper level. Other times, it’s a timely reminder of something I already knew. That’s what happened as I read Revelation 21-22 this time. My thoughts turned to the idea of “garden to garden.” What was revealed through John’s revelation was an indescribable new heaven and earth. Similar to the newness the original garden was to Adam and Eve, the new garden…
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Women in Leadership
Having served as a women’s ministry leader for many years now, I’ve sought to keep learning and growing as I serve. Here are two great posts that will help you do that very thing. Take a look at this first post that will encourage you as you disciple women: Women’s Ministry Equips Women to Share Their Faith and Serve Photo by Direct Media on StockSnap Now check out this myth-buster and share this with those on your team: 10 Myths About Leaders Photo by Brodie Vissers on StockSnap Banner Photo by Direct Media on StockSnap
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Are You Reaching the Younger Generation?
This week I want to provide 3 links to helpful information you as you lead the younger generation. 1 In this Brad Lomenick podcast you will hear from Tim Elmore on Leading the Next Generation and a New Kind of Diversity. I’ve learned so much from Dr. Elmore over the years on the younger generations. Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash 2 I have also learned much from Dr. Eric Geiger, especially while serving under his leadership at LifeWay. This is a great post challenging us to look at the risks and rewards of developing younger leaders. The Rewards Are Greater Than the Risk of Developing Younger Leaders Photo by…
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If There Is Any Other Way
Sunday morning we celebrated Easter, so in this follow up post, I want to share something I was reminded of a few days before Easter Sunday. As I ponder Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the agony He experienced, I am reminded through the study Navigating Gospel Truth (check last week’s post for more details) of His pain. Author Rebecca McLaughlin took us back to Jeremiah 25:15-29 to show us His agony wasn’t primarily the pain and shame of the cross. That was difficult enough of course! But it was the fact that He would carry the wrath of God for sin so that we don’t have to. This was…
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Behold!
As so often happens by “design providence,” I’m flooded with all things Spring and Easter. I’m soaking up every warm sunny day I can. I wrote about spring last week in Hope that Spring Brings. All I can think is, “Behold Him, the one who became our sacrificial lamb once and for all time.” I just finished reading the gospels with my D-group as we’ve journeyed through the Bible chronologically since January 2023. I’ve also been reading a couple of Easter devotionals. Then a couple of weeks ago, I started the study Navigating Gospel Truth by Rebecca McLaughlin. She does such a great job comparing and contrasting the 4 Gospels…
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Looking Toward the End
For me January is filled with lots of reflecting and anticipating. You probably noticed this from my previous 2 posts! Look back to the two earlier posts this year! As I was finishing up the study The Wonder of Advent in December and looking into the second coming of Christ as we read Revelation 20, a new connection was made for me regarding our struggles and Christ’s coming back one day. The study of God’s Word continues to show me new ways to understand who He is, how He works, and how He works through us! This is why we NEVER stop studying scripture! Maybe you needed to read that…
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Christmas Joy
This past week my advent study focused on joy. If you missed the last post, you can read Christmas Peace here. As believers we should know that true joy is not based on circumstances but on our position in Christ. I can trust Him and bear His fruit even when my heart is breaking. It’s through surrender this happens. As we stay surrendered to Jesus, he allows our fruit to bring Him honor. The second thing the writer mentioned as a part of this joy was obedience. I’m sure you know that joy is not what we experience when we are disobedient. God will not allow His children to continue…
