Author Archive
Power Up Your Ministry
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Today’s post is from speaker and blogger Lyn Smith. You can connect with Lyn and follow her at www.lynsmith.org.
I am going to say something so basic it’s almost embarrassing, except that I have discovered that it is lacking in women all over the world.
If you want power in your life, in your church and in your ministry, you have to pray.
Prayer is not an option if you want something to happen in your life and the lives of the women you lead. Prayer is the secret to every anointing. It unleashes God’s activity.
The kind of prayer necessary for spiritual impact, is the kind that wears you out. It isn’t just sweet whispers before going to bed and grace before a meal. Those are nice, but they won’t change your world!
Friends, if God has given you the privilege of leading, don’t drop the ball by neglecting serious prayer. He is listening for you and ready to bless.
Here is an intentional, strategic plan:
1) Start every day alone on your knees (if physically able) before God. That’s where you pour out your personal needs, thoughts, and feelings. Get all of that out with Him before engaging with others. No power will go out in your public ministry that hasn’t started in your private place.
2) Ask a few trusted, praying friends to be your inner prayer circle. These are ones you already know well and with whom you can comfortably share. Touch base regularly through email, text, Facebook or a phone call. They will pray with you over anything. It’s amazing how encouraging and strengthening that is!
3) Assemble a prayer group at church, or within the women’s ministry where you serve. This could be between 5-10 women, who are faithful, available and invested in the ministry. Set up bi-weekly or monthly prayer times where you specifically cover ministry needs, desires and dreams. Communicate to them that this is a vital part of the ministry.
4) On your own, with a friend, or in a group, go through Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s “Live a Praying Life” or read Mark Batterson’s “The Circle Maker.”
If you faithfully and consistently do those four things, God will blow the doors off your life and ministry. Hold on!
The Busy and Productive Leader
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I’ve often heard that if you want to get something done, ask someone who is busy.
Why? Because people who tend to be busy, tend to be productive.
I’ve witnessed this in the workplace, with volunteerism at school, and especially in ministry. Those who lead–and lead well–tend to be very busy people. And now that we are almost into the month of May, it’s a good time to address how to handle busyness. As women, May tends to be every bit as busy as the Christmas season. Graduations, weddings, Mother’s Day, summer vacation plans, etc. Women define the word “multi-tasking” during May.
Over the past several years, I’ve observed some common characteristics of highly productive, busy people. As I’ve incorporated some of their strengths into my own leadership style, I can honestly say I’m a more productive leader. I can take on more projects than most level-headed people I know, but somehow I’ve learned how to “manage” the busyness. Here are some tips to help you manage this busy season of life and learn how to be more productive in the process.
1. Set your priorities. Each day, make a list. Prioritize the things that have to be done that day and set out to accomplish as much as possible.
2. If it’s a big project, divide it into chunks. In the midst of a really crazy fall, I agreed to be the ghostwriter for a book. Writing a book doesn’t happen in a day, so I divided the chapters and gave myself deadlines. I set a realistic timeline, but I also allowed for unexpected interruptions. I was honestly shocked when I finished the book exactly on time–right before Christmas!
3. Have accountability with others. When others are expecting me to complete a project and they hold me accountable to finish, I work harder to accomplish the goal. In regards to the book, the authors who hired me, met with me on a consistent basis every two weeks. I knew there were people counting on me to be productive. Who are you accountable to?
4. Learn how to make decisions quickly and move on. I learned this years ago from a very successful businessman in my church. We served on a capital campaigns committee. During meetings, discussions or questions would come up. Instead of waiting until the meeting was over, he would find an answer or make a call right then. Before the meeting concluded, decisions were made and everyone was informed. I learned quickly why he was asked to be involved in many crucial decisions. He knew how to make decisions quickly and decisively.
5. Learn how to get people out of your office when you need to be productive. I don’t mind conversations. I don’t even mind some interruptions. But, many times, it can be difficult to end the conversation or get the offender out of your office. There have been some instances when I’ve just had to be blunt and explain that I’m in the middle of finishing a project and I need to end the conversation. If I’m sitting at my desk, I will stand and excuse myself. Even just the simple art of standing will send the message that you need to conclude the conversation.
6. Do the little things quickly. Some people will ignore emails or phone calls, putting off accomplishing simple tasks until later. The problem is that you’ll forget that you put those things aside. When someone asks you to do a simple task, just get it done and get it out of the way.
7. Don’t procrastinate, get bogged down or waste time. These three things are the greatest hindrances to productivity. Procrastination is a horrible habit. If you didn’t learn this lesson in college when you crammed for a test the night before, you probably still suffer. Don’t put off the things you can accomplish today. Do you get bogged down in a project? Are you spending too much energy and time on something that really doesn’t have great value? If you are over thinking the small things, learn how to move on. Finally, wasted time comes in many forms. Whether it’s the conversations in the hallway or the temptation to look at your Facebook, rethink #1. Keep your priorities.
Maybe you have your own tips on being more productive. I would love to hear your comments or thoughts!
Spiritual Battle Is For Keeps
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If you’re a women’s ministry leader (or really any kind of ministry leader), you can be assured that when you are planning a program, an event or a worship service, you are going to face spiritual attack.
Our office is one week away from our largest annual event. We are expecting more than 2,200 women for a weekend of meeting with the Lord. We have a keen understanding that many women arrive with lots of burdens and spiritual needs.
So why would we not expect to encounter struggles?
In the matter of two hours yesterday, our office felt the impact. There were three phone calls that involved conflict resolution. One of our key retreat team members was called for jury duty. One team member might need surgery. One team member has cancer. All I could say was, “God must be up to something great if the enemy is working this hard.”
If we’re to expect spiritual warfare as a leader, then how do we respond? Here’s some practical things to remember when you are under attack:
1) Prayer is an essential weapon. Yesterday, Kristin (my assistant) and I just stopped and spent time praying. One of my team members sent out an email to our leadership team and called on them to pray. Ephesians 6:18 in The Message says, ”In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” Even in the midst of what was happening around us, prayer kept us focused and gave us peace. I loved a tweet I saw from Louie Giglio this week that said, “If we knew what was really happening when we pray, we would pray more.” Agreed.
2) Recognize your weakness and depend on God’s strength. God has a good way of humbling me and reminding me that I can’t complete tasks without depending on Him. When was the last time God asked you to do something bigger than you could do in your own power and strength? In the same passage in Ephesians, Paul says, “You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.”
3) Be prepared before you head into battle. There are many things Godly leaders must do on a consistent basis to prepare themselves for spiritual battle. Spending time in God’s word and putting on the full armor of God happens before you go into the arena–not when the arrows are aimed straight at you. Paul begins Eph. 6:13 by saying two simple words, “Be prepared.”
4) What you do has eternal significance. I sometimes think ministry leaders don’t fully realize this. We battle for keeps. When you hear about conflict, struggles and unforeseen circumstances from others who aren’t in ministry, be mindful of the differences. While I don’t want to negate the struggles others go through, I think ministry leaders should recognize that the work of their hands has eternal value. I can’t say it any better than Paul did in this passage when he wrote, “This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.”
How are you handling spiritual warfare today dear ministry leader? Let’s get out the sword of God’s word and do battle for the Lord. I’m glad I’m on the Victor’s side.
Are You Brave Enough to Ask God Your Questions?
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If you’re like me, there have been times when you’ve asked God some pretty tough questions.
Where should I go to college?
Will I ever get married?
Why did my friends get divorced?
Why did my friend’s baby die so suddenly?
How fill God fulfill my calling?
I admit that many of my questions have had selfish motives, but for the most part, I have gone to God and genuinely asked because He was the only one who could answer. While I may not always like the answer, I’m always reminded that God’s ways are higher than mine and His thoughts are beyond mine.
I’m excited about our upcoming Oklahoma Ladies’ Retreat on April 13-14 at Falls Creek Conference Center. Our theme this year is “Brave: The Bravest Thing You Can Do Is Ask God the Question.” Asking God questions is not a sign of weakness. It is not a sign of being unspiritual. It’s actually the bravest thing you can do. One of the definitions for the word brave is, “to meet or face courageously”. Whatever you are facing or whatever is meeting you head on today, you can be courageous with God’s help and with answers from His word.
Today is the last day of our early registration price of $75. (special price for 9-12 grade girls at $40) We don’t want you to miss this opportunity. Special guests this year include Angela Thomas, Kelly Minter, The Skit Guys and The Skitzy Chicks. Matt Roberson will be leading our musical worship. Honestly, I can’t think of a time that we’ve had a better line up of special guests. You’ll have the opportunity to choose from 16 breakout seminars, participate in recreation or run in our first 5k run or experience our human exploitation experience. For a complete list of details, please visit our website. We’re adding new things to the website almost daily, so visit it often for updates. (and don’t forget to watch our promo video!) We can’t wait to see you in April!
By the way, here’s a quick look at what your $75 includes:
3 General Sessions
3 Meals
Lodging and Conference Fees
3 Breakout Sessions
2 Great Give-aways
and a weekend of awesome memories!
How Big Is God? Reach North America
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of months ago, I had the privilege of hearing Shaun Pillay, a North American church planter serving in Connecticut. He and his wife, Deshni, are from South Africa. As newlyweds, they sensed God’s call on their life to move to the United States and impact the northeastern part of our country. With just two suitcases and an obedience to say, “I will go where you send me,” the Pillays started prayerwalking in the city of Norwich, a city with a large international population.
As I listened to Shaun’s story, I was emotionally struck by two different things he shared. (although I think I could have listened to him for hours!) First, he pulled out a stack of notes that had been sent to him on his birthday. These handwritten cards were written by young girls who participate in Girls in Action at their church. As he held the cards and read a few messages from these grade school girls, he said, “When I get discouraged or wonder why God has asked me to continue, I pull out these cards and they keep me going.” What a reminder for Southern Baptists to pray for our missionaries and encourage them on a continual basis.
Secondly, Shaun made a statement that I probably will never forget. He said, “We have to stop saying how hard the ground is. Instead, we should start saying how big our God is.” How easy it is to complain that the “ground” God has called us to is difficult and hard to plow. But how much bigger is our God? Even if I’m not planting a church, God has given me a field to plow, a field to sow and a field to harvest. Do I sometimes limit the size of God? Do I really ask God to do things only He can do or do I pray for things I can do in my flesh?
This past weekend I had the privilege of speaking at a women’s retreat for the Maryland/Delaware convention. Arriving in Baltimore, I was met by my friend Gayla Parker, who leads the women’s area. Before we headed to the retreat center, she took me on a quick tour of downtown Baltimore where she and her husband serve. I had never seen the downtown area of Baltimore and what it offers. (someone suggested I should have sung “Good Morning Baltimore” from Hairspray) At one point, Gayla drove me to a spot overlooking the city. I couldn’t help but silently pray, “I know this ground may seem hard. But God is big and He desires a spiritual awakening for these people.” There are 66.5 million people living in the northeast and 82% do not have a personal relationships with Christ. There are 1,761 Southern Baptist congregations, with a ratio of 1 to 37,788 per the population. In short, the need is great. But God is big.
I hope you will join thousands of other Southern Baptists this week as we pray for our North American missionaries. Pray for your church as they promote giving towards the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Pray for your own gift towards the offering. For more information, visit www.anniearmstrong.com. To order offering supplies for your church, visit www.bgco.org/women.
Same Same, Different
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Today’s post was written by Heather McAnear. Heather is the women’s ministry leader at Bethany, Council Road. She and her husband, Garrick, teach young adults and just returned from their second trip to Cambodia. Heather serves on the BGCO State Leadership Team.
The dust gathered around us like a cloud and tears glistened in my daughter Madi’s eyes. This was our last day in a poor fishing village, wrapping up our 10-day mission trip to Cambodia. We’d been warned about taking a ten-year-old on a trip like this – out of the country, out of her comfort zone. There were the normal questions about how she’d handle the long flight, the food, the new culture and the “squatty potty”. But we felt a certain peace that we were doing the right thing. And on this last day in the village we’d all fallen in love with, I’d never been more sure of our decision to take her. Honestly, even I was shocked by how well she did.
The language was a definite obstacle for the adults to overcome, but within minutes, Madi was laughing and playing with children she’d never met and could not say one word to. Within the first day, she had a best friend for the week. Her ability to play with and enjoy the children only grew each day. Little did Madi know how she would pack up memories of her time with these precious children from half-way across the world, complete with nick-names and inside jokes in just a few days. To say she left the village with stronger one-on-one relationships than I did is an understatement. Although I, too, fell in love with the beautiful people and had my own tears as we pulled away, I found myself constantly frustrated by the hurdle of language. I wanted to say so much, but could communicate so little. No doubt the people of this village saw and felt our love and the Gospel was clearly spoken through our translators, but leave me alone with the locals and I felt naked. Smile and nod, smile and nod….that was my routine.
Kids are different, though. They refuse to stand around looking at each other, smiling and nodding. They jump right in and get to the point: forget what’s different, what’s the same? This is the essence of the Cambodian phrase, “Same Same, Different.” We may look different, but under it all we’re really the same. What was harder for an adult to see was easier through a child’s lens. When Madi was asked about the differences, she paused and said, “I don’t know. They’re kids and they love to play games with me.” I must admit, at first, my “mother alarm” was going crazy. Seriously? Are your eyes even open? These kids are living in the very center of poverty in a developing country. They’ve never tasted Chick-Fil-A, and you don’t see anything different? (Thankfully, I held my tongue and didn’t share these thoughts!) Through further conversation, it became evident that, yes, she noticed the stark differences between her reality and theirs, but that wasn’t what she was capitalizing on. Amid the dust, the hunger, the nakedness and the language difference, my little girl just saw kids who wanted to laugh and play. She wasn’t side-tracked by schedules or hand-sanitizer. She was making friends and sharing Jesus with her smile and her hugs.
On our last day, she and I were invited into the home of her newfound BFF. I took Madi’s lead as I looked into the eyes of her friend’s mother and observed similarities. I noticed photos on the wall, a baby on her lap and a sweet banana treat we shared. We were just two moms with our little girls. And as we stood watching our girls hug good-bye for the 18th time, tears pooled in both of our eyes. Same same, different.
This is the heartbeat of missions, whether it is across the world or around the corner. Instead of focusing on all that is different – and let’s be honest, that reality is usually glaring – a look at what is the same will knit our hearts faster and more sincerely. When we approach missions with the mindset that we are here only because we have something great to offer, we set up an immediate “us and them” mentality. Many will still be able to do good work for the kingdom but will not be easily able to break the tension between missionary and friend. It will be difficult for those we are reaching to ever see us in the same light as themselves; we put up a barrier, difficult to remove. However, when we approach the same work, with the same things to offer but seek to humanize and familiarize ourselves those we are serving, we make it possible to cross that bridge in our own hearts and in theirs.
What about you? Who do you need to see through a new lens or persepective? Have you been so focused on all that is different that you find it hard to relate at all? Whether it’s in the realm of women’s ministry, missions or your next-door-neighbor, let’s take a lesson from our Cambodian friends and look for the “same same, different”.
Marked OKC: Seeking Answers Together
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A couple of weeks ago I had lunch with a young woman who grew up in the student ministry where I have served for many years. I have watched Callie develop from an eighth grade superstar softball player to short-term missionary to serving on staff at one of the metro churches here in Oklahoma City. Our lunch was a reminder of the importance of investing in young women and hearing their desire to echo God’s heart for the world.
Callie is a part of an upcoming event that will be held in Oklahoma City this Sunday that I’m extremely excited to share. The event is called “Marked” and it will be held at the Farmers Public Market from 1-8 p.m. Marked is an annual event designed to provide education and inspiration that mobilizes the church to care for marginalized women all over the world. The organizers of the event believe that no woman should be marked by statistics of fear, torture or slavery; but be marked by love, hope and a future. They also believe that the church should lead the way in bringing this freedom to all women.
During the day, there are four educational tracks related to these issues. They include:
Health: Maternal/Reproductive Health & Clean Water Initiatives
Human Trafficking: International Trafficking & Domestic Trafficking
Empowerment: Education & Economic Empowerment
Women in Oklahoma: Incerceration of Women & Single Mothers
This special event will also include interactive experiences related to these areas as well as nonprofit organizations who are making a difference in these areas. There will be an ethnic food cafe, a fair trade market and an interactive prayer room. The cost is $5 per person. They can be purchased at the door or online at www.markedokc.com. The event is being sponsored by The Spero Project, Backpacks with a Purpose and The Sing. Our office hopes that we can partner with the Marked event in the future, but we’re encouraging women (and men!) to take time to check it out this Sunday!
Friends or Family?
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Today’s guest post is by Vickey Banks. Vickey is a member of Bethany, Council Road, where she is active in women’s ministry. She is an accomplished author and speaker.
I love my girlfriends! Among the multitude of reasons why is this:
Friends are the family we get to choose. They may not look, walk, or talk like us. We didn’t grow up in the same house and we don’t share the same bloodline or adoptive history. But, unlike the relatives we do share those things with…we get to choose our friends!
Most often, we have the same beliefs, convictions and interests that determine the way we live our very lives – things like faith, social justice, and our worldview. It’s connecting on such deep levels that make our friends more than friends…they actually become family.
Jesus felt that way about His friends. Once, when He was teaching in someone’s home, He was so surrounded by his closest friends and other followers that his mom and brothers couldn’t even get through the door to talk with Him. When someone told Jesus that His family wanted to see Him, Matthew 12:49-50 says He pointed to His disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Jesus wasn’t downplaying the importance of family. (We know that, due to other comments He makes throughout the Scriptures on the priority of family relationships.) What He was doing was elevating the importance of friendship. Essentially saying, “These people here get me! They know and accept who I am. They believe in what I believe in. They’re just as concerned about following God as I am. They are so important to me that I consider them as family!”
Although I deeply love the family I was born into, I’m also increasingly grateful for my faith-filled family of girlfriends. And because there are always new friends to be made, that’s a family we can increase. I’d love to hear what you most appreciate about your family of choice. Let me know via my blog at www.vickeybanks.com.
And do bring on the friends – the family we get to choose!
A Prayer Valentine For Your Children
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I love Valentine’s Day. As a little girl, I loved exchanging cards, getting chocolate from my dad, and hoping that someday I would find a special someone. I still love cards, chocolate and the special gifts from my husband. He hasn’t always figured out that while I complain about the calories in candy and the temporary life of fresh cut flowers, the rules go out the window on this day. Everyone wants to know they are loved.
This year I’ve decided to extend Valentine’s Day a little longer and make it a little more personal. I still bought cards and candy for my family, but this year I did something a little different. Over the past couple of days, I’ve spent some one-on-one time with each of my children. I asked them to trace their hand on a piece of paper–just like they did when they were in preschool. Both of them looked at me with puzzled faces, but granted my request. After I had their handprint on paper, I told them I was going to use them as a way to pray for them the rest of this semester. On each finger, I listed specific ways I could pray for them. I explained that I prayed for them everyday, but this would help me understand their specific needs and how I could intercede for them.
While I didn’t have a specific reason for each finger, I did break down each finger into the following categories: education/work, relationships with friends and the opposite sex, physical needs, their future desires/dreams; and finally, their spiritual needs. There weren’t any huge surprises, but I thought it was interesting that both of my kids told me something similar regarding friendships. They both expressed that they wanted me to pray they would develop friendships with new people–especially those they wouldn’t normally gravitate towards.
This morning as I prepared to write this post, I pulled out their hand prints to pray for them. It had been a long time since I had really looked at their hands. When did Conner’s hands get so big? I prayed especially for the hand he would someday hold and call his bride. And had I ever noticed how similar Courtney’s hands were to mine? Just like me, her fingers are long and thin. How will she someday bless others with her hands as she desires to teach young children?
Today I will add Vic’s hand print to my collection. While I love Valentine gifts, I love him most for his servant hands–the hands that scraped ice off of Courtney’s car yesterday morning, the hands that drag the trashcans out to the curb every Monday morning, the hands that pass the offering plate every Sunday morning in our church service; and even the hands that were burned by jalapenos on Christmas Eve when he spent all day smoking meat.
I’m grateful for the hands I get to hold. Whose hands do you need to pray for today? Hold them tightly and say a Valentine prayer of gratefulness.
Taking Good Care of You
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While walking the midway of a state fair, a carnival worker asked, “Ma’am, Can I guess your age or weight?” I glared at him and said, “If you get either one right I will be furious.” I was particularly concerned about his thoughts on my weight.
If you’re like me, you stand each morning before the mirror as if you expect there to be a judge peering over your shoulder, poised to deliver a verdict on each imperfection.
I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but the standard for “beautiful” is a moving target. It’s like living in a land of no absolutes—yet it’s a land in which we’re still expected to measure up. We feel pressured to look like we did in our 20s. We feel inferior if we don’t look like the stunning people we see in movies, magazines, and television.
Staking our self-image on impossible standards sets us on shifting ground that often puts us on two ends of a spectrum: we either relentlessly pursue attractiveness or we feel like we’re not worthy of giving any attention to ourselves. When we visit either end of this spectrum, we’re buying into the lie that our physical appearance somehow determines our worth.
So how do we find the balance between looking our best while keeping the pursuit to do so in check? Remembering these truths should help:
Our physical bodies are a gift from God (Psalm 139:13-16)
God fashioned each of us as unique human beings, designed to inherit a genetic makeup. Because we’re reflections of God’s image in one-of-a-kind style, we need to recognize and appreciate who He created us to be. In God’s Kingdom, there is no impossible physical standard to reach, only variations on a creative work called humanity.
Our physical bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
If we truly believe this, then taking care of our bodies will be a daily priority. We’re stewards of the body God has given to us. He needs us rested enough to serve, fueled enough to work, conditioned enough to endure, and alert enough to think.
Our physical bodies are a means to worship God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Anything we do that brings God pleasure is an act of worship. God is pleased when we take good care of ourselves. This means even physical exercise and eating healthy are a means by which we can bring God glory. That should certainly revolutionize our attitude toward both!
We need to find a reasonable approach to taking care of ourselves that allows us to accept and appreciate ourselves for who we are now—not who we once were or hope to be. We also need to remember that just as with our spiritual selves, God deals with us individually about our physical selves. Our goal should be to care for our bodies in such a way that we’ll possess more physical energy, strength, and endurance we can devote to spiritual goals.
Meet you at the gym?
Today’s guest blogger is Carol Sallee. Carol is a prolific writer and speaker. You can contact her at www.carolsallee.com.
I am the Women's Missions and Ministries Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Our purpose is to encourage women to embrace and echo God's heart for the world.
