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Is Spiritual Growth Individual or Corporate?
Last summer we enjoyed Olympic sports, my favorite being gymnastics. As I watched the trials earlier, I began to think about both team and independent competition in the Olympics. Both were opportunities to excel and represent their countries. Olympic competitors want to do well for themselves individually, and for their teams, all under the flag of their represented countries. I see a correlation of this line of thought to our spiritual growth as you can see by the title of this post. And, the answer is yes and yes! We must grow spiritual individually, time alone with the Lord is one way we will hear from Him as we study…
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Broken: Fall Beach Lesson 2021
A day or so after arriving at our favorite beach spot, I got up really early to hunt shells. (Read Beach Lesson #2 from our July beach trip to see why I was encouraged to get up earlier than I like to, just to find shells!) As I walked a distance I was passing up lots of large broken shells, looking for that one that was whole. Then I came across this one…palm sized, and brightly colored, yet broken. So I picked it up and added it to the other whole and unusual shells I had collected. I also began thinking about how many other broken shells I had left…
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Beach Lesson #2
As I shared my beach lesson on mentoring with Amanda (please read that post first, Beach Lesson on Mentoring) , she told me she got something totally different from that experience of finding shells. So this is her take on it. Amanda’s thoughts are in italics and my comments follow. 1 Our lives are like shells. How many come to the shore completely shattered. Only a few come whole. Most have broken pieces. Perhaps you are a broken shell yourself. Can you trust God for your healing? Maybe you know broken people, can you be a source of encouragement and healing for them? 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God…
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Time for Blog Sharing
Here are a few great posts I wanted to share this week to encourage you to read lots of bloggers’ material. Enjoy! 1. Although I feel all Christians are called to ministry, full time even, I do believe some are called to serve in vocational ministry as a career. Either way, this is a list for all to consider, from LifeWay Voices. Am I Called to Ministry? A Checklist to Consider by Dr. Jason Allen 2. Church is changing at such a fast pace. I love reading Carey’s posts that alert leaders about trends to consider for discovering how God wants our church to reach people in today’s world. 11…
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Blog Share
First I want to share such a timely and helpful post from LifeWay Women: Leading Women in Prayer by Kelly King. Kelly is Manager of Magazines/Devotional Publishing and Women’s Ministry Training for Lifeway Christian Resources and one super lady leading women across the country during this difficult pandemic season. I know this will encourage you. Then, I want to share this second blog because I believe that many leaders have doubted their ability to continue serving during this last 12+ months. I know you will be blessed by reading 5 Leadership Lessons From Gideon from LifeWay Voices by Chuck Peters. No matter where you serve, remember that God is still…
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Some Helpful Blogs
Today, I have the privilege of sharing some blogs I have found to be helpful. I believe you will agree with me as you read these. 1.Because social media is just a big part of our culture, we need to use wisdom in how we post, read or interact on these platforms. Eric Geiger shares Proverbs for Consuming and Contributing on Social Media. 2. Have you ever felt the ministry calling in your life is not what you expected? Jeff Martin writes When You’re Disappointed With Your Ministry Assignment for LifeWay Research. 3. Discipling women has been my heartbeat since the Lord led me into women’s ministry 40+ years ago.…
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In the Aftermath
I have loved serving Jesus over the years in the area of women’s ministry. There have been both highs and lows throughout the journey. Often, when I have been on a mountaintop experience or event, not long after (or even during!), there has been a huge valley to walk through. When I should be flying on wings of hope and power and joy, I have felt low and even hopeless. Well, so did Elijah! As I finished Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah this week,I can’t help but write one more post on this amazing study. You can read the first two posts here and here. Why does this happen, to us and…
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4 Pandemic Lessons
I recently spoke virtually to women’s leaders in Baptist Convention of New York sharing some of the things I have learned during the pandemic. I limited it to only 4 of those many lessons and wanted to share them with you today in this post. Since December, I’ve been reminded of a post by Noe Garcia on Jeremiah 29:11. He shared how that verse is a follow up to the message that Israel would be in captivity a long time, and while there, the Lord told them through the prophet Jeremiah to settle in, marry and have children, grow crops and be fruitful. I actually wrote on this in January…
- Blessings, General, Generations, Leadership Lessons, Lessons, Pandemic, Spiritual Growth, Test, Trial
Pandemic Panic
I recently wrote a post for Revive Our Hearts leadership blog. A Veteran’s Wisdom for Ministry in a Pandemic. I am so grateful for an opportunity to serve women’s leaders, especially as we face ministry challenges in this pandemic confinement. If you are challenged by having to learn new “ways” to connect and serve Christ, please head over to their blog to read! Today, I will link to that here. Leader Connection Blog is a great one to follow! Also, check out their leadership page and ask to join their private group. Here you can see all their women’s leadership resources. P.S. I previously wrote more detail on my technology…
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When We Fall Down
Beach Lesson #2, 2019 One morning while sitting on the beach, I saw a women walking down the shoreline. But on her return trip back, she appeared somewhat unstable as she walked on the edge of the surf right in front of where we sat. I kept watching her, and sure enough, she fell and began rolling in the water unable to get up. My husband and I jumped up and ran over to help her stand up and fish her sunglasses out of the water. Once she was standing again, we asked her if she was okay. She said yes and, after we advised her to walk on the…
