I must confess that right now I have a huge pile of laundry to conquer and a sink full of dishes. The charge to go into the world and make disciples seems beyond my capability. I can’t make time to wash my hair most weeks. How am I supposed to fulfill the Great Commission when I can’t even get to the grocery store to make dinner for my family? I am just an ordinary woman. The call to reach the lost seems like an extraordinary challenge. How can I have a missionary heart in the midst of my daily life? Reading through the Bible, I’ve found inspiration from the lives of 5 ordinary women who made an extraordinary difference. 5 Ordinary Ways to Live on Mission for our Extraordinary God:
You can choose to be a world changer right now. Pray, help, encourage, invite others in, and serve. Ordinary acts of obedience can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others. About Lyli
If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.
10 Comments
Different states, different denominations; women doing different kinds of ministry all gathered together in one place, that was this year’s Missional Women Conference. My daughter and I had the privilege of flying to Denver for the 2016 Missional Women Conference. We met so many beautiful ladies; women flying in from Buffalo, pregnant moms, post college students, those in ministry to young people, leading in Young Life, and older women seasoned in their faith. So many imparted wisdom during private conversations, classroom break-out sessions, from the stage, and while encircled around those small, intimate tables where vulnerable hearts lay honest, transparent, and abandoned to one another. We gathered in a warehouse type-setting that was retro and elegant, new and old, updated and seasoned….just like those of us women united there. The feel was casual, and inviting, welcoming and engaging, humble, while providing intimate time with God leading to personal revelations. Here is a list of my own personal takeaways from the 2016 Missional Women Conference:
If you were at the Missional Women Conference in 2016, you can come this year! The retreat is April 27-29 but is limited to only 50 women. Find all the details at MissionalWomenRetreat.com
About JenThough born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations. Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios. Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s. Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family. You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda . Jen is also on facebook. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. If you google ‘prayer’ there are 292,000,000 results. 292 Million! in 0.39 seconds! Truly, our world has much to say about prayer. The Christian world has written many of the books on prayer. An amazon search for ‘Christian prayer’ list 50,631results. The ruth is we can read and read and read, but we won’t learn to pray until we actually…pray. I have been listening to Tim’s Keller’s book on prayer while I walk. It has many great truths. However, I realized that most of it is re-iterating what I already know about prayer. And how do I know these things? Because I learned them as a child, literally, at my father’s knee. I was an eight year-old girl at our regular Wednesday evening prayer meeting when I first felt the nudge inside of me to pray publicly. So far, I had just listened to other pray-ers. And as I prayed I imitated what they, especially my father, had prayed. I am sure to an outsider it may have felt astounding or out-of-place or even comical. But to the Lord, and my father, it was anything but that. I may have needed to ‘grow into’ my prayers. But, the truth is, as I began to pray with others and to pray publicly, I was exercising the discipline of prayer. And through all of the ups and downs, the searching questions, the trials and the darkness, prayer has never left or disappointed me. I want to show you why this is true. I also want to humbly offer to teach you how to pray. In my next few posts, I will share the principles that have been most important in my own experience of prayer. It is admittedly a tiny offering considering all that is out there on the matter. But, I hope, too it is an honest and heartfelt expression of the life-changing reality of prayer. How to Begin: 1. We Come Simply, Truly, Fully. When we pray, we take all that we are, our mess, our sin, our weakness, our doubt, our fear, our shame, our monumental insecurities and pair it with the faith we have. Though it be a mustard seed, this is all we need. We hold nothing back of our frail flesh. There is no facade before a holy God. And, in this way, we come simply, truly, fully to prayer. 2. We Come Keeping First Things First. Much of what is wrong with prayer is that we often don’t begin with what is most important. We come in moments of need with our requests. We come, too, confessing our guilt. But, we often forget to come adoring God for who He is. This is a discipline of the heart which transforms our prayer life. 3. And So We Come. When we know how to come to God and how to begin praying, it is only left to do just this. Take 5 minutes right now to adore God. Begin with ‘Praise You Lord, You are…’ And name everything He is: loving, faithful, good, compassionate. Use passages like Lamentations 3:21-25 or Psalms 103. When we come as we are to a holy God through the blood of Christ, we are changed. As we adore Him for who He is and glory in the power of His redemption, none of our petitions seem the same. When we come and adore Him, we become full of Him to such a degree that our will surrenders to His. At the same time, our faith increases as we behold our God. Thus, we find ourselves boldly interceding with great faith. I want to remind you, I am still very much in process. But one thing that has been helpful, is to learn to check my heart. If I find I have been throwing up petitions throughout the day, I stop every other prayer and simply focus on adoration. For some, a disciplined time each day to praise God as the beginning of that day’s prayers will work best. Regardless, as we keep our prayer lives in order, we will see God move in powerful ways.
About Abby
If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. I think we’ve all heard this phrase before: God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. But is this really true? Do I have to sit around and wait for God to call me to something magnificent before I can begin to practice anything? Before He can grow me? Let’s look at an example:
Jesus definitely went on to teach and equip these men further—there is no doubt about that! But weren’t they already a little equipped before they began? Wasn’t that part of God’s plan? Hadn’t they learned patience, perseverance, and how to ride the roller coaster of fishing? Most certainly! They were already equipped and then they were called—and then equipped further. For so long, I used that phrase as a cop out. A way to say, “I’ll wait for God to equip me before I am obedient to His word.” Once God calls me to be a skilled evangelist, I’ll start practicing. Or, I confused myself by thinking, “I’m already skilled at writing, what is God going to make me do?” If I am already equipped in this one area, and He doesn’t call equipped—is He going to call me to music? That didn’t sound fun or effective for His Kingdom… While I just admitted how I have used that phrase, I think this quote can give courage when we are scared to actually walk out God’s call for our life. It reminds us that God’s got our back. That he will give us wisdom when we need it. And He will; after all, all wisdom is God’s wisdom. If you’re repeating the quote in this way, the give me courage way, then keep repeating it to yourself! God does got your back. He will support you. And it is safe to walk out God’s call for your life. But, if you identified with either of the ways that I have used that quote to keep myself from stepping out in faith—remind yourself what you know to be true about God. That’s what helped me. -You don’t have to be perfect at something in order for God to use you. God’s perfection can work in you. -God does further equip the already equipped. Before and after the call. -God wants you to trust Him. He has the best plan for your life. If you're interested in learning more about your talents and how God wants to use them to grow His kingdom, I highly recommend stopping by the Missional Women Store. Grab a copy of a workbook created by our host, Laura Krokos, called "Discovering God's Call For Your Life." The topics I had to work through in that book is why I'll be trusting God with going into full-time ministry. I couldn't recommend it enough.
About JacqueJacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can. She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan. She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her Christian Twenty Somethings blog at Desperately Dependent. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. In 1997, someone that I love was in the hospital. The relationship is a difficult one at best – I often found myself trying to “fix” and “correct” my loved one, who is a very prickly person. But there in that hospital room, God taught me a lesson. “Could you bring me some water?” he asked. I took the Bible off my lap and got up to reach for the plastic cup and straw and placed it right under his chin. My duty as “water girl” completed, I moved to sit down again, but that was when I heard my “tough cookie” relative saying, “You really love me, huh? I never knew you really loved me.” Can I tell you how God broke me through this experience? For years, I tried to corral this person into better behavior, but I’d failed miserably. Now, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me clearly: Your job is to love him. My job is to change him. That day, I learned that love can make an eternal difference. I made a conscious decision to choose love above all in this relationship, and I’ve seen greater transformation in my family as a result. 5 Ways Love Makes an Eternal Difference: 1. Love displays the reality of Christ to this doubting world: By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35) 2. Love leads us to live in harmony in this world full of discord: “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). 3. Love brings restoration to the weary in this broken world: “For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (Philemon 1:7). 4. Love leads us to respond with grace and forgiveness to one another in a world full of grudges and fights: “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8). 5. Love helps us stand strong together in faith instead of faltering alone: “Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling” (I John 2:10). As we choose to respond with God’s love, our faith is perfected, and we overcome fear (I John 4:18). Let’s continue to love in Jesus’ name. We might just soften a few hard hearts and change our little corner of the world
About LyliLyli Dunbar loves teaching. For 17 years, she mentored teenagers in the Christian school setting, and now she has serves as Associate Director of Curriculum at Trinity International University Florida. Lyli married her Prince Charming in her 40’s and has a heart for encouraging young couples and singles in God’s waiting room. She enjoys road trips with her husband, connecting with women through Bible study, and reading way too many books. Lyli writes about life lessons and faith on her personal blog. You may also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. “Oh, that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine. The fragrance of your perfume is intoxicating; your name is perfume poured out. No wonder young women adore you.” Song of Songs 1:2-3 Throughout my life, I have had these moments of cynicism when it came to romance. I would try to distract myself and others from thinking about romance, I would snarl at the examples of romance on tv, and even turn my nose up at friends in romantic relationships. But there has always been a side of me that deeply desired a grand romance – I like flowers, dates, love notes – but thought it was a distraction from the Lord. I knew God loved me, but I also thought He thought my liking for romantic gestures and the like were just silly. My initial thoughts about this series were going to be practical points about relationships, or relationship realities, but the more I asked God what I should say, He showed me points of romance! One Sunday I got to have hours to spend time with the Lord – Malcolm watched Ruthie while she was awake, and I got to pour over scripture and pray and rejoice with the Lord – it felt like this really special date with God! I felt like I got hit with a ton of bricks – God made romance! He designed it with a special purpose. All throughout the bible God shows us how He is a romantic. From the beginning of creation He created two beings – man and woman – to fall in love. Their first interactions were out of joy, exclamation, and no shame! To the very end of the bible there is the most epic wedding of all time between Christ and the church. Jesus’ first miracle even occurred at a wedding – not healing the sick, but turning water into wine – like He was saying, “I care that everyone enjoys their time here cause I rejoice in weddings!” We have beautiful stories in the bible of romance – Ruth and Boaz, Solomon and his bride, Abraham and Sarah, Hosea and Gomer – why would God put these in there? Song of Solomon alone seems like the TMI of this couple’s love life, but God keeps all 8 chapters in the bible!! WHY?? Because God created, rejoices and enjoys romance. Why? Because romance is God’s idea to point people to the reality of what He truly thinks about them. I labeled this series The Gospel in Romance. My hope is for you to see this beautiful story unfold of how even within this seemingly human ideal that God has an amazing picture to show us of what real love and romance look like. We’re going to walk through the different stages of romance: dating, the proposal, the engagement, the wedding, and the ever after of marriage. Each stage points to the gospel in its own stunning way! Do you remember passing notes in class when you were younger? I begin each of the 5 stages with a note passed for you to read. They are verses from Song of Songs. So let’s get started with… Stage 1: Dating A Love Note from Jesus: “How beautiful you are, my darling. How very beautiful! Your eyes are doves.” Song of Songs 1:15 “Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the young women.” Song of Songs 2:2 My sophomore year of college we had 3 snow days – the first time since the 1990s! You could barely get around town. People were cross country skiing in the middle of the road and using snow shoes to get around! I lived in this house that we called The Cottage, I lived there with my best friends from my freshman year. During the snow days, people within Connect would come to The Cottage and hangout all day long to play in the snow, do homework, eat – we had a LOT of fun and we all really bonded as a group. I think it was around this time that our friend Riley started really liking my roommate Kristy. I remember one time that semester we had the snow days Riley was literally at our house all day long, and Kristy barely noticed him. I remember she left to go somewhere, and Riley rolled over on our couch and moaned, “Leah! What am I doing?!” “Dude, I don’t have a clue what you’re doing!” I replied, “ Cause she doesn’t even want to get married! Let alone date.” Despite Kristy’s resistance, Riley continued to pursue Kristy. We all thought he was wasting his time, until it seemed like Kristy might actually like him. She would go on dates with him, and when we would ask her about it she would say, “Oh, we’re just friends” or “It’s a free meal!” Needless to say, as roommates we were confused! But as months and months went by, they actually started dating, which turned into a proposal, which turned into a wonderful wedding in July where we all showed up to celebrate! I remember thinking, “To think that Kristy was convinced she would never get married! I wonder if Riley will work on how she doesn’t want to have kids…” About 2 years ago they brought their first son home from Uganda, and she is due in April with their second son! I share their story because to everyone, except Riley, pursuing Kristy didn’t make sense. And the fact that he kept pursuing her REALLY made no sense, except to Riley. This is exactly how Jesus is with us! He knows what he’s doing, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. The dating period points back to Gospel in this way: Dating reflects how Jesus relentlessly pursues a personal relationship with us. We may not notice Him for a long time, we may not even be sure He is what we truly wants, but Jesus is standing at the door of our hearts knocking. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20, “Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.” Jesus stands on the front porch of our hearts like a desperate fool – continuing to knock wanting to have a first date with you where He will ask you the most amazing question anyone could ever hear, “Will you be my love forever?” One of our good friends, Jospeh, came to know Christ officially while he was here for school. But he investigated a long time into the bible and the truth of Christ. His life up to that point had been characterized by brokenness, addictions, and hard-knocks. He was just kind of getting his life together when he met a talented and attractive chef named Darcy in a kitchen where he was the dishwasher. She also happen to be a Christian, but also in a little bit a rebellious point in her walk with God. Later into their relationship, she started bringing up how important God was to her. Joseph began a journey that took at least a year into seeing who this Jesus was. Once everything was brought together, he took that step of faith to ask Jesus into His life! This is so rare to hear missionary dating actually worked, but it was definitely led by God for a greater plan. They were married the month after Malcolm and I actually. Now Jospeh is at Seminary to become a pastor, and Darcy stays at home with their 3 adorable kids. Just like everyone dates for different amounts of time, it takes different amounts of time for each person to know all they need to about Jesus before they make a decision to open the door to let Jesus into their lives. Some people need to hear the Gospel multiple times over the course of a life time, whereas others need to hear it once to know all that they need to about Jesus. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” Jesus patiently waits at the door of a person’s life to offer them a new life, because He desires everyone to have a relationship with Him. Unlike humans who give up at the first sign of rejection, Jesus relentlessly waits to give each of us a chance to accept His invitation of eternal life with Him. Since He’s a gentleman, He will not force us to do anything we don’t want to do. Think about the last time you faced rejection from someone. How did you feel? How much more does Jesus’ heart break when people decide to reject Him – even to the very end of their life on earth? Jesus knows all too well the heartache and drama of dating, because the ups and downs are even more real when dealing with the eternal state of a human being because the stakes are much higher. In every dating relationship, there reaches this pinnacle point that leads to the make it or break it. Which can lead to… {come back next week to read part two.} What have been your initial thoughts of romance? Lord Jesus, Lover of my soul, Thank you for all that you showed me during this study! I pray that you will open the hearts and minds of others to have your view of romance and that we will become romantics like you!! Help us keep our eyes fixed on you and not on our emotions as we walk through this series. I pray that our emotions will fall in line with you and not our preconceived notions of romance. Its in Your name we pray…
About LeahLeah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. Over the last month, I've set out to be a better prayer. Two things helped me grow the most: Before Amen By Max Lucado and War Room (a super awesome Christian Movie). Lyli wrote an awesome post about scriputres to post on your war room wall...and that got me thinking. Where do I spend the most of my time doing nothing for God's kingdom? Not really praying or talking to people or sharing the Gospel----my car. So I brainstormed ideas and then put them to work. I never thought I could experience God's presence so much by sitting in the driver's seat. 1. Ask God To Reach Your Sphere Of Influence We all have people in our lives that we love so much, but they don't know any love the Lord. If you're anything like me, remembering to pray for them specifically on a day to day basis can be very hard. Write their names on the top of your windshield and pray for them every time you see them. 2. Pictures Are Worth A Thousand Words Place a picture of something special to you on your dashboard. Then, pray for that person, place, or thing every time you look down and notice the picture. As you can see, I placed a picture of my Compassion International Child on my dashboard--and I pray for Muvita daily because of it. Don't sponsor a child or want to know more info? Click here. 3. Use Technology If you have a smart phone...did you know you can set it to remind you things at location? (Instructions Here) Set your phone to remind you to pray for an opportunity to share the Gospel every time you arrive at your local grocery store, bank or post office. 4. Sing To Him I love worship music. But, I've noticed that if I don't get my heart in the right condition and actively sing to God--it's no different than me singing out loud to a Carrie Underwood song. Never experienced Christian music in the car? Check to see if KLove is in your area or browse the Christian Playlists on Spotify. 5. Get Him On The Throne Nothing changed my life more than learning what the Spirit Filled Life actually is. Draw a picture of Him on the throne on your side or rear view mirror. Then, as you see it, be sure to make sure your heart condition is in the correct place for God to work through you! 6. Remind Yourself Of God's Character Head over to our free-printable for subscribers. Print and cut the Who Is God cards and clip them to your visior. Use them as memory verse cards or use them to pray more specially for the unreached. Instead of "God please let Mackenzie know you" you say "Lord, please reveal your character to Mackenzie... let her see that you are the best protector she could ever need." I've only been at this for a little under a month. Do you have ways that you make your time in the car effective in your relationship with God? I'd love to hear them...and probably steal them!
About JacqueJacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can. She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan. She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her blogging at Desperately Dependent. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. Back in my “early” years of full-time ministry (early being relative, because I’ve only been at this about 6 years), I met with a girl how brought up an interesting observation with how we pray out loud. “Have you noticed how much people say, ‘God, just do this’ or ‘Just be with us’. But don’t you think that God wants to do more that just those things?” I hadn’t even noticed it a lot before, but then after that I haven’t been able to not notice how often we say “just” in our prayers. It’s become this filler word in our prayers, like “um” in a speech. I began to think more of what I wanted to pray, and if I wasn’t sure I would plainly tell God I wasn’t sure, but He knew what needed to be prayed for. I thought more, which actually made my prayer life more meaningful. I actually said what I meant and didn’t focus on trying to sound right, holy, or lengthy just because I thought I needed to. I actively talked to God rather than trying to impress God and others with my words. Lately, however, I started noticing that I have been “just” praying. This fall I have been praying for status quo more than praying for more. It’s been like I’ve been nominally asking God of the universe (ya know, Creator of all things), “Hey… could you just keep everyone alive? And can things be just normal and average? Thanks. Amen.” It’s not even like we’ve been going through a hard time, I just plateaued and was wanting to stay there. When Jesus prayed, and when He showed us how to pray, He prayed for God’s will over all. “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). If you think about it, Jesus prayed humbly but boldly. He ask His Dad if there was any other way to save humanity to have it happen – would you pray for God to save you if you were humanity’s only chance to have everlasting life? Selfishly, I would have. But Jesus wasn’t selfish – but He did boldly asked. When was the last time you unselfishly but boldly asked God to do something? When was the last time you asked from something seemingly crazy – like that one person you think would never accept Jesus to accept Him or for Him to do a miracle in your life? If He doesn’t do it, it means that He has a better plan in store. And, like Laura Krokos explained to me, if your heart breaks to not see it happen, then HE is the one Who has to clean it up. Do you need out of your boring, preserving prayers? I do! I want to see God do bigger and better things in my life. Am I willing to be uncomfortable to see those things happen? Well, deep inside in my spirit I know I am even if my flesh wants to fight it. Want to put away just praying for the norm and join me for praying for a bold and extraordinary 2016?
About LeahLeah works with Master Plan Ministries at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. Other than watching college students' lives change, she enjoys getting her mind blown by God and His Word, watching sci fi, baking cupcakes, and spending time with her hunky husband. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. I remember the year when my whole life crashed. I was in the height of ministry; leading small groups, having foster kids, and writing fervently. I thought nothing could stop me. I was wrong. Much of life stopped. Yet shockingly, my heart to serve Him missionally became more determined than ever. As a result, I found Him revealing His faithfulness, and in retrospect, that was my best year yet. Scripturally, Jesus and His disciple's mission wasn't easy. Yet they accomplished much for the Kingdom. How did they resolve to live missionally, and how can we too this year? 1)Love Radically – The incredible thing about Jesus is that He loved un-apologetically. He loved when it was difficult, and kept on loving, when they hung Him on a cross. Scripture warns that in the last days, people's love will grow cold. (Matt 24:12) Let's resolve to not let that happen and instead intentionally pursue love in every aspect of our ministry this year. 2)Cultivate Connection - What I love about Jesus is that He engaged people, constantly. He befriended, asked questions, and truly valued connection with not only people...But with God. As a result, Jesus only said and did what He saw and heard the Father doing. (John 5:19) How might our ministry look differently this year if we only moved, did, worked, and made decisions based from a place of intentional connection with Him? 3)Carry An Unoffended Heart – During my season when life crashed, the human thing to do was to embrace offense, bitterness, anger, or self-pity. But God called me to love the unthinkable, forgive those who didn't deserve it, and get my heart aligned with His, letting go on my own rights and entitlements. After all, He hung on a cross after being crucified and asked the Father, “Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”(Luke 23:34) If Jesus can forgive those who pierced Him, how much more should we forgive others? 4)Faith is Not Optional – When we look throughout scripture, we see a common theme, faith. What marks us from other religions is not our good works, but that we are people of faith. And yet how easy can it be to get into ministry and in time, rely on ourselves instead of God? If we are going to have a year that is our best missional year yet, we have to intentionally walk like Paul says, by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) How can you trust God more this year? 5)Less is More – Paul says it like this, “He must become greater, I must become less”. (John 3:30) His power is made perfect in our weakness. Letting go of self has no guaranteed of “big” ministry, but the satisfaction from surrendered service will likely lead you to your best year yet. Won't you test Him by laying yourself at His feet this year, seeing what great things He can and will do through your selfless service to Him? 6)Daily Praise and Thanksgiving – Long ago, my prayer life radically changed when I started writing a list of prayers on one page, and a list of thanks on the other. Truth is, before I did this, my heart was always wanting, and never thanking Him or seeing His goodness. Scripture talks exhaustively about Thanksgiving and Praise. If it was important to God, shouldn't it be a priority for us? 7)His scale is not ours – In the midst of my crisis things appeared hopeless. Jesus death on the cross however reminds us, death often seems to come before the resurrection. We see the battle, but He stands in a place of victory. We know in part, but He sees fully. (1 Cor 13:12) We can trust Him when things don't appear to go our way. Let's stop looking at crisis, set-backs, and appeared failed attempts like defeat. Let's start praising Him with an un-offendable heart, loving radically, dying to self, living from faith, and staying connected to the One that counts. Then, we can resolve to have the best Missional year yet!
About JenThough born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations. Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios. Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s. Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family. You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda . Jen is also on facebook. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. I had a schedule, a plan; take care of my children, do devotions, lead Bible Study, and just quietly live life like a “good” Christian. What I hadn't expected was the storm of interruptions, the journey God had me on, filled with more curved than straight lines, more difficult than easy living. Maybe your like me, you grew up dutiful going to church. You live life just trying to do the right things, never making waves or swaying from your perfect agenda. But what if I told you God doesn't care if your life is messy? What if I told you He might want to interrupt your plans of carefully calculated religious practice and methodical Christianity? There was a woman who interrupted Jesus, urgently bellowing her request, “My daughter is miserably and distressingly and cruelly possessed by a demon!” (Matt 15:22) Jesus was a Jew. Some commentators think He was on a mission, others say He was resting after ministry, not needing the distractions of some unknown lady who wildly proclaimed her daughter was crazy. To her cries, Jesus was simply silent. (Matt 15:23) Have you ever felt that way too? You called out to Jesus and seemingly He was silent? The disciple's followed her inconvenient pleadings with, “Send her away”. But Jesus finally answered her persistence cries with, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. And I “get” it. This lady wasn't in His schedule. She didn't make an appointment. In fact, she wasn't even part of the people group Jesus himself claimed He was sent to. While most of us would shrink back or say, “Maybe it just isn't Jesus will my daughter be healed”, what made this stranger keep persisting, reaching in closer, kneeling, and start worshiping, praying, “Lord, help me”? Some say Jesus calls her a dog after that. Others think Jesus was implying that her people are dogs when He said, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs”. (Matt 15:26) Either way, Her faith didn't grow cold, but grew stronger with each interaction she had, with Jesus. Doesn't our faith grow too, each time we purposely commune with Him? “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table,” was her reply. (Matt 15:27) Now, I am sure by this time, this woman was despised by the disciples. “Leave Him alone”, they must have been thinking. But, what I love about sinners, the desperation found in the least of these, is that they don't care about protocol, agendas. They aren't cautious, or calculated, or worried about impressing the right kind of people. All they want is Jesus...and they'll do anything to find Him. Jesus then uses this woman's faith as an example to the disciples. After that,He seemingly rewards her persistence by bringing about her daughter's deliverance, declaring, “Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.” (Matt 15:28) Her daughter was cured from that very moment. And I wonder if in our religious systems sometimes...if in my list of “must do's” and schedules needing fulfillment...if there is room for welcomed interruptions. Scripture almost screams of how accommodating Jesus was to those who seemingly thwarted his intentions.
How often to do we let faith lead our footsteps? How much of our life is Spirit-led and interrupt-able
About JenThough born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations. Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios. Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s. Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family. You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda . Jen is also on facebook. If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.
Sharing this over at these awesome blogs. |
New here? Head on over to the Home page to see what we're all about.
Two Free eBooks for SubscribersJoin 11,000+ others and get Missional Women updates and two FREE eBooks.
Subscribe Are you new to our site? Check out our HOME page to get a better idea about the Missional Women ministry.
Popular Posts |