In a Barna study, 72% of women felt stressed, 58% felt tired and 48% felt overcommitted. Only 5% selected church activities in their top commitments, though the biggest percentage wanted to improve that.

One factor potentially contributing to the lack of engagement in church community is that they report finding little or no emotional support there. Fewer than ½ indicated receive ANY emotional support from people at church and only 17% said they feel “very supported”. 43% said they don’t feel ANY support.
 
Let me ask you a question:
What has been your favorite women’s event? Why?
What have others said their favorite event was? Why?
 
The greatest need of mankind is the love and be loved and feel worth while to self and others. So our women’s ministries should keep that need and reality in mind when we plan events. So how do you use events for more than just entertainment but for the purpose of building authentic community or for outreach and training?
 
The first step is to choose your own adventure; to pick your purpose. It’s the north star and therefore everything you do, you’ll want to be intentional in line with.

A couple ideas I’m going to talk about for your purpose might be to help your women connect deeply with each other and feel more connected, loved and supported. Another purpose I’m going to talk about is reaching out to non-believers or your community and training your women how to do that in the process.
 
So lets look at 5 event ideas and then I’ll share 2 ways to contextualize them to your purpose. I’m just going to give you an run down, and not explain all the details of each event to be able to cover more. If you interested in any of the event details, just jot it down and you can find the exact how’s on google.

(If you'd prefer to watch the video explaining these, jump to the video at the bottom of the post.)


1. Paint Party. Paint and sips are really popular and anyone even people who are not painters can do it because they walk you through each step. These generally tend to be well attended even by people outside the church and are easy for women to bring a friend or co-worker to.  
You bring some yummy snacks and coffee and tea and have a little paint night together. In your area there might be someone who would be willing to do one of these for you. Normally they would charge $30-40 per person.
 
You can also follow tutorials online and they tell you all the supplies you need. You only pay the cost of the tutorial. One I recommend is the Social Easel. It’s about $35 total. But you’d need to get the paint and some canvas’ on amazon so you’d charge $12-$15 per person.
 
And if you’d like, in celebration of my new book, You Are Unshake launching on the 7th, I created a free paint party tutorial for free. You can find it here on my youtube channel. I walk you step by step through making a pretty pot of tulips.
 
A great devotional that would go with a paint night is talking about how we so often we make mistakes but God is able to take and turn them into something beautiful. And how the goal is not to become enough on our own, but to lean into the sufficiency of Jesus who is enough for us.

2. Open Mic Night. Set this up coffee shop style and have everyone wanting to share draw numbers in the order they share. You can encourage people to read a poem, sing, slam poetry, share a story etc. Chances are you have women that have something to share and just need opportunity. You can even invite most of them beforehand to give them a chance to prepare. And is a great way to help fan the flame of the gifts God has given people.  

You can have a devotional about how we are all created uniquely with different gifts to offer each other and the world but sometimes it can be scary to use them.

3. Fiesta. Mexican themed parties are just fun. You can have Mexican hordourves, pinata (how fun is that! Usually only little kids get to hit a piñata), you could have fiesta party games like sombrero dance, hot chili pepper eating contest, or how hot is it (where you arrange the chilies in the correct order of hotness) taco battle, or bean game, mustache selfie contest, . (find instructions on google)  colorful decorations, mariachi music. And if you have a crafty bunch you can do Mexican themed crafts like terra cotta pots painting with symbols like cactus and  the sun or you can make DIY maracas or giant tissue paper flowers.  

You can have a devotional about the chief end of man is the know God and enjoy Him forever.

4. Duct tape night. It’s said that duct tape fixed everything right. There are TONS of crafts you can do with duct tape. You can make adorable flowers, cards, wallets… you name it. There’s also a ton of games you can play like team races of building a house or if you have a younger active group you can get in groups and tape one up with the sticky side out and they have to pick up as many little cotton balls off the floor or wherever as they can in a certain amount of time. There is also duct tape bowling or top model (where you create a dress for one of your teammates and they need to model it.) There's a ton more you can find on google.

A great devotional for this would be to talk about how duct tape might be able to fix a lot but only God can fix our true brokenness and we can turn to Him no matter what.

5. Sip and Swap. This is basically shopping from each other’s closets. Pick a place that has some open room and have a stand-alone clothes rack. Everyone brings clothes, jewelry and perhaps kitchen items or shoes if you want and then hangs them up or sets them out on display. You have some snacks and go free shopping.

A good devotional for this would be to talk about how the Lord clothes the flowers of the field and we don’t need to worry about our life.
 
So getting back to the purpose of events, you can incorporate one of two elements that will help you turn your event into more than just entertainment.

Say your purpose is to share the Gospel with non-Christians and train your women how to share the Gospel. Almost every event, you can have a ½ time and have someone share their testimony which includes a clear explanation of the Gospel. You would give a testimony worksheet and then set up a time to go over it with her after she has completed it.

1 Peter 3:15 says that we are “always to be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you….” One of the best ways they will be able to explain to others the hope that is in them is through having their personal testimony ready to share.

A testimony is always more effective when it is organized and to the point and you want to help them prepare it. Acts 26:4-23 we see an example of Paul sharing His testimony.

Although people can try and argue about claims of Christianity, no one can argue with what Christ has done in your own life. And people are interested in what God is doing on a personal level. They want to know.

So, what you you want to help them share is:

Before Christ. What their life was like before they received Christ. What were their attitudes, needs, and problems? Examples will go a long way. Around what did your life revolve? What was most important to you? Help them share specific examples. What did they look to for security, purpose, peace of mind, and happiness? And then in what ways did they find their activities not satisfying?

What led to their decision to trust Christ? Why did they give Him complete control of  life, and how did you make this decision? When did you first hear the Gospel? How? For example: "That night as they spoke, it was the first time I can ever remember hearing that God loved me and sent His Son to die for my sins which kept me from knowing Him. And all I needed to do was to commit my life to Him by asking Christ to come into my life."
 
What was their initial reactions to Jesus Christ and His death on their behalf? What was the turning point in their attitude? Was there a sin that was hard to forsake? What mental barriers did you experience?

What Happened after they surrendered their Life to Christ? What changes did they see in their actions, attitudes, and problems using specific examples. How long did it take before you noticed changes? What does Jesus Christ mean to them now?  

So before you give it to her, you’d want to cast vision of why it’s important for people to hear her story and how God can use it and why you would like her to do it. Use it as a personal affirmation time. And find out if she is even willing.

Also you’ll want to be clear about your expectations of time frame (which a good time frame is 3-5 min.) to explain how she saw her need for Jesus to forgive her and how she first heard and understood the Gospel and that it’s not necessarily her life story.

And it’s a good idea to have discussion groups to share about what they think of her story and how they can relate. This helps open conversation with the other women and potential non-believers.

Ok, so let’s move on to the other purpose of helping women connect deeply with each other. In order to do this, you need to use questions. Have you ever noticed in Scripture how the people who got Jesus’ wisdom were the ones who asked questions? Mk 13. And in proverbs, “Wisdom in the heart of man is like deep water and a man of understanding must draw it out.” It is rare for someone just to open up vulnerably without someone asking them a question.

So, you want to create an atmosphere where there can have a safe conversation, and provide questions that will enable people to open up. The vast majority of people don’t go around asking deep questions but they are not opposed to and even yearn to have deeper conversations. These conversations enable them to feel know, loved and supported.
 
A key to authentic connection and vulnerability is to take the lead in sharing hard things and not giving off the vibe that you’re perfect or that you expect perfection from others. Be willing to be vulnerable. When people see that you’re not perfect, they sigh and feel more at ease because they know they are not perfect.
 
My favorite tool to help accomplish this is something called the Reveal Cards. There are many things similar but after 20 years of doing ministry I didn’t quite see something that was facilitating these deeper connections so I built it. It’s a tool our ministry uses and a ton of others. So, I’m sorry for the plug, but I wouldn’t share if I hadn’t seen it make a huge difference in the depth of their groups.
 
So let’s put it all together.  

1. Write down your purpose and mission for your women’s ministry.

Hopefully you’ve already done this but in case you haven’t I’ll briefly go over it.
​Your purpose is why you exist. It answers the big why. We as humans exist to glorify God (to know Him and make Him known) so chances are your purpose will have that little tag line in it.

Here are some examples:

• Glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
• To help women find their way back to God.
• Make more and stronger disciples of Jesus.

Your mission describes what you do. How do accomplish your purpose.
Some examples are:

• Helping women live on mission for the glory of God.
• Save, equip, send.
• Connecting people to Jesus and one another.

  2. Once you have your purpose and mission in mind, think through how your events are going to help you accomplish them. This likely will happen in a teaching or devotional time or in conversations your intentionally set up with women to have with each other. And ideally both.  

And then you will have an event that isn’t just for the purpose of entertainment but also meets the deepest needs of your women and will help them be used by God for eternal purposes.

​There are so many things in this life that clamor for our attention, wooing us to live to get what we want when we want it. Can't we all use the reminder that this life is not about us, but rather about making the invisible God visible?

It's been said vision leaks so we need to be reminded often of why we really exist. As we train ourselves to think through the lens of it just not being about us, it will begin to change the way we think and act about things. 

​For the last nine years we've been doing this great little exercise to re-focus and re-center our attention and affection on Jesus. It's called Not About Me November. It's an entire month where we seek God and seek ways we need to make life more about Jesus and less about us. After all, He must become greater and we must become less. Each year it proves to have incredible soul shaping value. The exercise of saying no to our flesh and pointing to Jesus produces beautiful, meaningful fruit.

This year as we point to Jesus, we'd love for you to join us.

​
Here's how you can join the experience. 

1. You can take the challenge of posting something about (_your topic of choice)_ not being about you, but about Jesus everyday on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter... etc) or as often as works for you and use the hashtag #NotAboutMeNovember (I would be grateful if you tagged @laurakrokos and @missionalwomen so we can encourage you.)

2. Invite your people to join you. It's encouraging when there is others taking the challenge with you.  You can do it with your family (maybe with kids not online, everyone can write something on a chalkboard and talk about it at dinner or something), small group, ministry team, online group, homeschool group... the sky's the limit. 

3. And/or you can blog about something everyday, a few times a week or once a week or less and link it up on the link up. We've created a month-long linkup below  (Flag this email or make this page a favorite on your toolbar so you can keep coming back to it.)

Be sure to watch/follow the #NotAboutMeNovember hashtag as it is so good for the soul to see how God continually shows you things that you need the reminder that it's just not about you. AND it's so encouraging to see what others share bringing on the,  "Oh wow! That's right! I hadn't thought of that!" moments. ​

​​Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 and serve with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, A Devotional Journey through Judges, and Discover God's Calling for Your Life. Most recently her resource for Bible studies, The Connect Cards was released by Cru Press. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site.

​What does it take to stop you? Are you like a train that once you're going is very hard to stop?

And what does it take to get you going? If God asked you to do something, what would it take for you to say, "Yes"?

Can you imagine doing something you knew God wanted you to do but it failed twice with a huge consequence. What would it take to get you to do it again? 

After asking the Lord if they should advance, Him saying Yes, and loosing 2 battles, loosing 40,000 men "The sons of Israel inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, Aaron's son, stood before it to minister in those days ), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the sons of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand." So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. The sons of Israel went up against the sons of Benjamin on the third day and arrayed themselves against Gibeah as at other times."  Judges 20:27-30 

We don't know why the Lord let them fail twice. It could be to humble them, it could be to let the arrogance and pride of the Benjamin grow, to remind them it is the Lord who brings victory or many other reasons. Whatever the reason it is evidence that in this world we will have trouble. God never promised a pain and struggle free life. But He did promise that He would be with us, that He would come through for us since He has overcome the world.

When we come face to face with something that seems impossible we just need to keep walking by faith, we need to commit our way to the Lord and let Him direct our steps. We need to press in even more to the Lord and let Him give us strength to persevere. And really perseverance stories are amazingly beautiful. So when it's all said and done, you'll look back and be glad at what the Lord did.

And PS there are a ton of great lessons to be seen and followed in Judges. Check out my devotional here that goes through the entire book.

​Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 women, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks many times a year. Laura is an author and creator of ministry tools and resources. You can find her books and resources at the Missional Women store and  connect with her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.

If you've ever been intimidated by the Great Commission or thought it was just for missionaries and pastors? Or perhaps you're just not sure where to start? If so, then this video is for you. It breaks down the Great Commission and what it looks like in our every day life.

​Watch below to see a helpful diagram that makes it super clear.

​Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 women, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks many times a year. Laura is an author and creator of ministry tools and resources. You can find her books and resources at the Missional Women store and  connect with her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.

​I sat surrounded in a pew

Yet I felt lonely

A church full of people

Yet who else was with me?


I closed my eyes to pray,

"Jesus, who else is fighting?

Who else is seeking YOUR heart?

Who else is sharing the Gospel?"


My mind went to the Great Battle

I stand in white

I draw out my sword

And I run to the front line


I think back to old me

At one point I wouldn't fight

I used to be a spectator

I was a commentator on the spectacle


Then I became aware

I knew I needed to be in

I was called to the field

But I was terrified of the wounds


But that’s not me now

Now I know where to draw strength

The more I swing my sword

The more I learn what I'm doing


So here I am on the front lines

I look to either side of me

I see so few others fighting

So I look behind...


And there is the army

Slinging their stones from a safe distance

Holding their shields and spears

They are protecting something that I can't quite see


As I pull a soul to safety

Some of those stones are hitting the enemy

They make their own difference in combat

AND they are hitting me too


In a moment of reprieve

I am extremely aware of the vastness

Our enemy is big

So crafty and cruel


I see those closest to me take big hits

Some of those never allow the physician

To even look at their wounds

And they never return to the frontline


"Jesus!" I cry as I run toward the foe

"Where are reinforcements?

If we only had more help

This would feel so lonely.


"There must be more!

I see a big contingent over there

Strengthen them, Jesus!

Oh yes! I see so many fighting over there!"


I look behind me

Falsely assuming that other are seeing

I look back at the troops closest to me

My heart drops...


There is the army,

A huge mass of warriors

Sitting

Swords on the ground


I can see their strength!

It's the same strength that I have!

But they stare ahead at me

As if unaware of the battle that is raging


All I can do weep

How can they not know?

I run back to them

I will tell them


"The war is at a critical stage!

There are people trapped over on the other side

I can show you how to fight

Who is with me?!"


Some start to pick up their swords

But then sit back down

Some have lengthy discussions about battle plans

But they never move


Throughout the battle

I keep going back

Encouraging and showing truth

But very few come with me


Just when I thought I couldn't go on

When I was weary beyond measure

When my body couldn't take it anymore

The Commander in Chief called me home


I open my tear-filled eyes

The people in the pew

Haven't changed at all

I still feel so lonely


"There is one more battle"

He reminds me

"You only know this stage of the fighting.

Let me show you The End."


And there we were!

We running to the enemy

No hesitation

No fear


At first I didn't see very many

But as we ran more

The more I saw

And the more excited I became!


There was my ailing friend

Who couldn't do much on earth

Riddled head to toe with issues

But he was unstoppable and fierce on this field!


There was the mom I heard about!

She fought cancer

She also fought to share the gospel

And she looked radiant and brave!


I was surrounded by warriors!

Strong, bold, courageous

I look behind me

My heart lept within me...


Because THERE was the army!

No one sat

No one held shields

Everyone was aware of what was ahead


And there was Jesus

Faithful and True!

He was on His horse

That King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!


Jesus spoke to me

Sitting in my pew

With no one else aware

Of our conversation


"Take courage, dear one.

The struggle is severe.

You are in a war zone.

But the Battle IS already won!


"You are not alone.

You are surrounded

Warriors may be sleeping

But they are there.


"Keep fighting

Care for souls others discard

Share with the intimidating

Stand on truth.


"People fought before you,

And people will fight after you,

But someone needs to fight now

And I called you for this time.


So, fellow warrior,

I call you to the front line with me

There is nothing to fear

When you know you win in the end

​Leah 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. 


​
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When I was 11, someone named Norm interrupted my life. And I'm so glad he did. 

I didn't even know there was something I should be seeking, let alone know the right questions to ask. When God says in Romans, "How can they hear without someone telling them?" I totally get that. I had no idea there was something I wasn't "getting". 

Acts 20:24 says this... just one reaching just one is the mission. And this mission is more important than life itself. Woah! "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 NIV

"But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God." Acts 20:24 MSG

"But I consider my own life of no importance to me whatsoever, as long as I can finish the course ahead of me, the task I received from the Lord Yeshua - to declare in depth the Good News of God's love and kindness" Acts 20:24 CJB

"But I put no value on my life, if only at the end of it I may see the work complete which was given to me by the Lord Jesus, to be a witness of the good news of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 BBE


So what does it look like to live as though the mission is more important? Does it look like being Billy Graham? Sharing with droves of people and then left to wonder how in the world you will disciple by the thousands? Is it gathering a stadium of people to hear the wisdom spill from our mouth? No, it's starting with just one. Just like one tiny mustard seed that grows into something much larger than itself.

Norm saw me as just one, even a tiny, terrified, shy 11 year old girl and he interrupted my life to share with me. Then I saw my need for Jesus and surrendered my life to Him. Over time, the Lord matured me in my faith and gave me opportunities to share with just one's and many have turned to Him and trusted Him with their life. 

God does so much with just one's. Like this:

A awhile back I discipled Stephanie and we were having a conversation about the mission/sharing the gospel. Stephanie was motivated to take initiative to share the Gospel with her friend Sarah. Sarah surrendered her life to Christ. As the year went on we got to see the neat changes God was producing in Sarah from the inside out.

After that year Austin and I moved and I didn't keep close contact with Stephanie or Sarah. But awhile back I got an email from Hilary, a girl wanting to get involved with our ministry. We had coffee and I heard her story of how she came to Christ and how she had heard about us. She told me that Sarah (the girl Stephanie led to the Lord) and another friend had shared the Gospel with her and led her to the Lord! Hilary moved at the end of the school year but I recently heard that she got to lead her friend to the Lord and is discipling her. Just one turns into much more than just one.

But the reality is that 96% of believers will go to their gave never having shared with just one, never even starting the mission that's more important than life itself. The mission the Lord gave us is so much bigger than our very life but how easy it is to live an entire life differently.

 
Oh Lord, it is so easy to live distracted, as though the mission is second and comforts and pleasures of this life are most important. Lord, we are desperate for You to give us Your heart and perspective. To help us see and seize opportunities You give us. Desperate for Your Spirit to lead and empower, to help us overcome our doubt and unbelief. To enable us to just start the conversation with just one and trust You with the results. Oh Lord, let us be people who finish the race well and not look back and say, "I have wasted it". Lord, we can do nothing apart from You. Would You align our heart to Yours, our desires to Yours. We are not adequate in ourselves but our adequacy comes from You, the One who made us ministers of reconciliation. Thank you for the great mission more important than life.


If you are not sure how to go about starting a conversation with just one, check out this post, 10 Questions for starting a spiritual conversation.

Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Staff Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 women, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks many times a year. Laura is an author and creator of ministry tools and resources. You can find her books and resources at the Missional Women store and  connect with her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.




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This is the third part in a series about how to live out the Spiritual Disciplines. Read part one here and part two here.


The third discipline that helps us grow in our relationship with God is
Connecting with God through Encouraging Believers 
When is a time you were inspired to live for the Lord or a time when you were encouraged to trust God more?

I have a friend Leah who I love to get together with and talk about what God’s been teaching us and dream about things we could do to make Jesus known. Like this last week we spent time dreaming about how to share the Gospel with unreached people on Facebook. Every time I leave a conversation with Leah I am motivated and hopeful for taking the next step the Lord has put before me of making Him known.

Hebrews 3:13 and 10:24 are such clear explanations for us on what fellowship/community really are. It's encouraging, spurring, prodding, pushing each other to run after the Lord and use our gifts for building His kingdom rather than our own. It's coming alongside each other and helping each other through temptation, exposing lies and serving alongside each other for God's glory.

When this kind of community exists, it's beautiful. There's authenticity and vulnerability. Iron is sharpening iron and the world can see that Jesus is Lord.


Ideas of how to Connect with other believers with a busy schedule:
​* Text a friend a prayer request or ask them what you can pray for them.
* Text a friend a verse to encourage them.
​* Join a Bible study (and get a babysitter)
​* Invite people over for a meal and make a point to pray for them and ask God to show you what to make sure to say to them.
*Be intentional to ask people what God’s been doing in their life and what He’s been teaching them. Ask what they dream of doing for Christ and what they’d like to do and are currently doing to serve Him.


And the final discipline that helps us grow in our relationship with God is
Connecting with God through Sharing the Gospel. 
It's kind of weird to think that we grow by sharing the Gospel, but get this, "I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith that you might know every good thing you have in Christ." Philemon 6

When we step out of our comfort zone and trust the Lord to do what only He can do in changing hearts we get to see Him use our faith. The more we trust God, the more we trust God. When we step out and do scary things for God's glory He comes through and we get to be wow-ed by Him.

Evangelism is pretty much one of the scariest things we can do on a regular basis. And ironically it's one of the easiest disciplines to justify our way out of doing by believing simple lies, "Share with actions and if necessary use words", "I don't know enough", "I don't want to push people further away", "I need to befriend someone first". All these are contrary to Scripture but can be so easy to hold on to.

Reality is, we can't really grow much in our relationship with God if we aren't willing to talk about the most important thing in our life with people. If we are disobedient in this thing, it spreads like gangrene to other parts of our heart and mind and poisons our faith and feeds our doubt.

Ideas of places to start spiritual conversations and share the Gospel in your everyday busy life:
​* Have a few questions ready. i.e. What has been your experience with Jesus? Have you ever wondered about eternity? Would you consider yourself a good person?
​* Invite non-believers over for a meal.
​* Start a conversation with other moms at kids sports/activities.
* Message someone on facebook rather than scroll your feed.
​* Make a Facebook Ad for the Jesus film or other evangelistic video and point it to other countries.
​* Invite people you meet (even at Wal-mart or a restaurant) to church and ask them what they thought and then use your questions to get to the Gospel.

​If you are not trained in sharing the Gospel, I highly recommend The Way of the Master as it will build your courage and confidence in stepping out in faith.
​

The Main Thing: Reliance on the Holy Spirit
We can do a lot of things that look great on the outside but "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Psalm 127:1 We can do nothing of eternal significance, including manufacturing our own growth without remaining dependent and yielded to the Lord.

The way we depend on/rely on the Lord is really pretty simple. It's also not a feeling or experience we have with the Holy Spirit, rather it's a choice. A simple heart act of confess and surrender, the same way you surrendered your life to Christ in the first place. A simple, "I know I need you, please do this through me" or "I can't do this without you, help Lord." I just love how blatant Paul is in describing the Spirit-filled life, "Oh foolish Galatians who has bewitched you? Having begun in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:3 Here's a helpful diagram that talks more about the Spirit-filled life and can help you explain it to others.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to empower us and intentionally give time to these four essential growth elements the Lord brings about beautiful life transformation.

​​Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 and serve with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, A Devotional Journey through Judges, and Discover God's Calling for Your Life. Most recently her resource for Bible studies, The Connect Cards was released by Cru Press. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site.

This is the second part in a series about how to live out the Spiritual Disciplines. Read part one here.
The second discipline that helps us grow in our relationship with God is

Connecting with God through Scripture
I heard a story of a young Christian girl who was tricked and sold to a brothel. She was brutally tortured until she agreed to serve clients (10-50 a day). For three months, she persevered through the torture but finally couldn’t bear it any longer. For 2 years she was forced to be raped multiple times a day and on the wall in her room she etched Psalm 27:1-3 "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear, though war break out against me, even then I will be confident."

The Lord used International Justice Mission to rescue this girl and as a result a team went in and raided the brothel, rescuing 20 other girls. Now this girl clings to Psalm 10:17-18 "You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.

Jesus promised us that this life is going to be hard, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”(Jn 16:33) And we are going to need comfort. Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction but Your Word has revived me.”

God’s Word comforts us by showing us what is true. It shows us God’s heart and God’s ability. It gives us comfort that leads to hope, which gives us strength, confidence, eternal perspective, peace, perseverance and courage. And we grow the most and the fastest when we cling to the truth of God’s Word for the more you trust God, the more you trust God.

When you first go to a new country and don’t know the language it is just nonsensical sounds. But as you stay there for a length of time, those non-sense sounds start to take on meaning. The same is true with God’s Word. The more we hear God’s Word, the more we become accustomed to His voice, and the more we become aligned to what He desires, loving what He loves and hating what He hates.
The more we are in God’s Word, the more we will recognize His voice. And the more we will be mature, able to discern truth from error. (Heb. 5:16) And not only will we recognize truth and grow in maturity faster, we will become like Him for the more we are around someone the more we become like them.

Besides comforting us and making us more like Him, there are so many more benefits of spending quality time with the Lord in His Word. As you read the following list, think of how God has used His Word to bring about each of these qualities in your life.

God’s Word gives us freedom, strength, and purity, leads us to obedience, produces fruit, gives us health, guidance, confidence, understanding, discernment, insight, and restoration. It makes us wise, enlightens our eyes, warns us, leads us to trust God, motivates us to worship, gives us an eternal perspective, reveals the origin, nature and purpose of man, it clarifies right and wrong, directs, encourages, reveals God’s heart and handiwork, shows us what pleases Him, makes us complete, provides spiritual nourishment, teaches us patience, courage, perseverance and joy, it gives us hope, shows us how to forgive and be forgiven, how to find relief and how to love and be loved. It reveals God’s goodness and His justice, His standards and His mind, without it we are deceived, it provides us with all our needs in the spiritual realm, reveals what is to be learned, taught and obeyed, gives us adequacy and makes us equipped for doing good, convicts, and convinces and is the standard by which we will be judged.

 
Ways to Incorporate God's Word into your busy life:
​* Read a story Bible to your kids before bed.
* Listen to the Bible on audio while doing chores and driving.
​* Get up early and use a quiet time journal or another resource to help you read through the Bible.
* Read out loud at the table.
​* Write it out.
*Have everyone take a break and read.
​

Here's a couple helpful resources to cast vision of the importance of spending time with God and some practical tips on how. 
* How I Still Have a Quiet Time with 5 Kids.
​* How to have a quiet time video.
​

​Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries since 2002 and serve with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, A Devotional Journey through Judges, and Discover God's Calling for Your Life. Most recently her resource for Bible studies, The Connect Cards was released by Cru Press. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site.

God provided a million dollars in just a few months. But before I get to that let me back up a bit. Not long ago our ministry was given a multi-million dollar property. The possibilities of having groups at this beautiful mountain location to train and equip people in the Great Commission and hosting conferences and retreats swirled in our minds. But as we toured the site, we discovered that of the five-building ranch, one of the buildings needed to be torn down and the others were falling down because the foundation had not been built properly.
The design was beautiful. Antler chandeliers, trendy paint and trim and even custom wood floors. Yet, it was completely unusable because someone had neglected the most important thing-the foundation.
​
We prayed and decided that if the Lord provided a million dollars to bring it up to code in three months we would adopt the ranch. And what do you know, God provided every cent that was needed just in the nick of time. It took years of hard work to get it to get it to a place it could be used and fruitful for God’s kingdom.

The ranch is a physical picture of many people’s spiritual condition. It’s easy to make things look nice on the outside all the while not working to make sure our foundation with the Lord is solid. Without a strong foundation, our roots are shallow and we cannot withstand the pressure when the torrential rain and wind of hard times comes.

​Would you describe your relationship with God as deeply personally and thriving or is it something you’d like to grow in? If you’d like to grow and have a thriving, fruit-bearing relationship with God, there are four elements, or disciplines to incorporate regularly into your life.
These are not things you do to earn acceptance by God. For if you have surrendered your life to Him, you are already fully accepted, loved and valued by God. These disciplines are more like the laws of the universe. When A happens, B happens. Or like an apple tree that needs soil, water and sun in order to grow before it produces fruit. Our relationship with God needs four relational elements or disciplines: connecting with Him through His Word, prayer, talking about God to Christians (fellowship)  and talking about God to non-Christians (evangelism).

1. Connecting with God through Prayer
Years ago I had a conflict with someone in the church I served at. This other person also served there and one Sunday morning the first words spoken to me after walking in the door were crushing and mean.

​Back up a couple hours. I had been so hurt by this same person the previous week and a handful of other people that I didn't want to go to church and have to see them. But I clung to, "I go to serve, not to be served." and I laid down my right of being treated well. 

So when I forced myself to walk through the doors and the first words I heard struck my heart I couldn't take it, I walked out.

For the next two hours I went on a giant walk and prayed, "God, you tell them what you think of me!!" (Not in the a sweet gracious tone, but a sick em God! tone). My heart was angry and bitter and I wanted them to get it from God. I wanted them to hurt like I was.

As I continued praying the Lord told me to pray for him. To really pray for him, to pray the hardest thing for me to pray. It took what seemed like an eternity to get to a place I was even willing to pray the best for him but with the Lord's help, I did. Not that I actually wanted the best for him, but I was willing to pray it. So I did. I prayed for God to bless his ministry someday. For me that was the hardest thing to pray because in my mind he didn't deserve to get to serve the Lord (as if anyone does! Silly Laura).

The craziest thing happened when I really prayed for him. My heart changed. My hate and bitterness and anger toward him began to dissolve. The following week, this guy who had never said sorry to anyone in his entire life came up to me and apologized and gave me a hug. I was stunned.
Prayer helped me yield to the Lord and gave room for Him to do the impossible.

​Ideas for incorporating Prayer into your everyday busy life: (Please don't see this as a you have to do it all list. Ask God if there is one of these that you can incorporate into your everyday life.)

Laura, the founder of Missional Women is married and has six kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 14 years serving with Master Plan Ministries where she is the Women's Development Coordinator. Laura has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, A Devotional Journey through Judges, and Discover God's Calling for Your Life. Most recently her resource for Bible studies, The Connect Cards was released by Cru Press. You can find her on facebook, twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram, periscope, blab and her author site.

As one millennial speaking on behalf of The Millennial Generation I have to say from my perspective my generation is hungry for deep, authentic, real relationships. The Millennial Generation is considered those born from around early 1980’s to the 2000’s. There are many ways to reach this Millennial Generation and we must if we long to see the advancement of God’s kingdom being passed down. Here are 5 ways to reach Millenials:

 
1. Understand Millenials. It seems simple enough but I believe when you understand where this generation is coming from it will grow your compassion to reach them. Did you know that as of 2012 only 19% of Millenials said that others could be trusted? Why? I believe it’s because this is a generation that has experienced divorced families at an alarming high rate. They have experienced an alarming rate of sexual, physical, and mental abuse as well as bullying, depression, and suicide. So next time you ask yourself why Millenials aren’t wanting to get involved or why they want to hide behind their Facebook Wall remember that this is a generation full of broken people unsure who can be trusted and afraid to be hurt. Yet also remember this is a generation desperate for meaningful relationships and therefore a generation hungry for a relationship with God.

2. Have Hope For Millenials. When you say all Millenials are like such and such remember you may be speaking to a Millennial. I’ve experienced this myself and it makes me feel lumped into a category and that can be frustrating to be generalized into a mold when there is so much more to you individually. So I encourage you, some of those characterizations may be true, but have hope for our generation and encourage us that we can be culture changers and that we are not defined by when we were born but defined by our relationship with God.

3. Use Social Media. Yes, I admit, a lot of the Millennial Generation does have Facebook, and Twitter, and Snapchat but I encourage you Social Media can be used to build trust and genuine relationships. Use Facebook as a tool to build trust. Like their pictures, reply to their posts, and send them a message.  What that shows is that you are invested in their lives and to what matters to them. Build that trust and then use it to build relationships in person by inviting them to Starbucks and letting your friendship build deeper from there.

4. Disciple Millenials. As much as this generation is hurt and broken by relationships they are also searching and seeking for something deeper. Discipleship can be a great place of growth and healing. Be a safe person to show them relationships can be lasting. Be consistent, even if they aren’t, and show them you aren’t going to back out on them. I believe selfies are so big in this generation because of the desire for encouragement and someone to show them worth. What better worth than showing them their life significance in Christ.

5. Pray for Millenials. The Finishers by Roger Hershey proclaims that this generation could be the generation to complete God’s mission of reaching the world for Christ! As we pray for God to use this generation, and as we build into this generation, God in his grace, is going to use this generation to be world changers. Just because our culture came up with the term and generalization of “Millenials” doesn’t mean that is who we are. I’d beg to differ and say this is The Missional Generation and I have seen the fruit not only in my life but the life of others that shows the passion our generation has; and with the redeeming hand of God we are The Missional Generation!
 

Hope McCleary graduated from Mesa State College with a degree in Mass Communications. After graduating she spent two years working in local news at KKCO 11 News in Grand Junction, Co. She decided to give up her career in the media to share the message of Christ full-time. She joined full-time staff with Master Plan Ministries the summer of 2012 and got married to Forrest McCleary in September of 2012. Through her own personal ups and downs in college Hope has a heart for college women understand their worth as God’s daughters, to see them grow in their faith, to grow in the unique gifts God has given them, and to stand firm in their faith even with the pressures of the world all around them. Hope’s interests include world and local missions, photography, singing, playing guitar and writing music, reading, meeting new people, coffee, and hiking. 

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