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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!
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.
Questions Along the Way
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Drive time seems to be one of the most opportune teaching times, although being prepared for those opportunities is another story. Recently while driving in the car with my very wise fifth grader, she asked me a very simple question. “So, mom if God is too pure to look on sin then how did Satan talk to God about Job?” Really? Do fifth graders think of questions like this one? Yes. So along the way after a few fumbles with my words, we searched the Scripture for God’s answer.
The first thing to consider while answering the question are the Scripture she was referencing. One can note in Job 1:6 “that when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan came along with them.” In addition there are the accusers before God in Revelation 12:10. It is also true that God sees all as in Proverbs 5:21, Psalm 33:13-15 and Jeremiah 16:17 “For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes”.
So if God is able to see all, then where did the idea that God could not look upon sin originate? It came from Habakkuk 1:13, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing”. It will benefit us to understand what it means to “look” on evil in the Hebrew definition. The word is nabat and defined as “looking intently with favor”. So the verse is verifying that God is too pure to look on evil with favor. God can look on anything He pleases, but He does not look on evil or sin with favor, therefore “the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths” (Pro. 5:21).
In summary, drive time is some of the best time to have conversations with people and it is the best time for them to pose difficult questions. Some of the most challenging questions are from kids, but it is so good that God did not leave us without a ready answer. So remember, God stated to teach people along the way and as you go, leaving His disciples with ready answers in His Word.
Today’s post is by guest blogger Deanna Huff. Deanna is a member of Oklahoma City, Capital Hill. She teaches at Christian Heritage Academy.
The “Jimmy Leg”
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Today’s guest post is by Laci Tompkins. Laci is the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha. She serves on the BGCO state women’s leadership team and on the state human trafficking task force. You can contact Laci at ltompkins@usao.edu.
Do you or your spouse have the “jimmy leg?” You know, the restless leg that kicks randomly in the night with sporadic jerks? It’s somewhat interesting at first, but then as time goes by, it becomes a problem. There is no sleep, no rest, anxiety and so on. There are times in our lives when we too become restless. We become discontent and unsettled with anything from our house, our job, our marriage, our place in life, our church responsibilities and an assortment of other things. In all these areas, we need to learn how to model contentment, not restlessness.
Being content is easier said than done. That’s like asking a child who just had a candy bar and a soft drink to sit still on a bench in a toy store for thirty minutes! It’s not happening. It’s our nature to keep a demanding pace, set higher goals and strive for more. But in the midst of our restlessness, are we demonstrating our lack of dependence on God? Simply put, is God enough for you?
Sometimes I believe God allows difficult times and situations to humble us. It is during these times He reminds us He is everything. He is enough and more. In Luke 10:7-8 Jesus sends out seventy-two new disciples and He gives them instructions on how to conduct themselves. He tells them don’t move around from house to house, and eat and drink what their hosts gives them. In other words, model contentment and not restlessness. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” It also states, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” If you are going through a difficult time, be still, acknowledge God is all you need and unclench your fingers from your fists. Give up your dream for God’s dream, and your wants for His will. Pray His desires become your desires.
If you find you have the “spiritual jimmy leg”, then recognize it for what it is. The Bible says we are drawn away by our own lusts. Reel it back in and simmer down. Count your blessings and model contentment. And when you catch yourself behaving like the child hyped up on sugar, remind yourself, “I will not be that child.”
There’s No Retirement Here
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It will be several years before I can officially retire from working. But, a few days ago I was reminded that retirement from working does not mean retiring from ministry.
Last week I blogged about the precious little girls I met at the annual Lottie Moon Tea. On Friday, I met with a group of women from Baptist Village Communities to share the message of missions. Instead of me teaching them, I was the one who “got schooled!”
First, these women all live independently and are quite active. Their activities director told me, “They wear me out! I can’t find enough things for them to do!” One of the women was the Children’s Specialist for our convention until her retirement in 1998. Another was an education minister in our state for many years. Talk about organizers! I’ve known Joyce Shelby since I was in college, and she was a woman in ministry long before it was acceptable in many of our churches. She paved the way for women in full time ministry.
These women had the room completely decorated. They had placemats made with the Lottie Moon artwork. They had refreshments. They had an agenda. They had it going on – even down to their Christmas sweaters. One woman even came straight from her church where she had been a volunteer for their food pantry. (In the back of my mind, I kept telling myself that I was looking into the future. I can just see me running the women’s meetings at the retirement center and looking for the right centerpieces!)
As I stood before them to speak and share my heart for the world, I was overwhelmed with emotion. For those of you who know me, that’s not too difficult to believe. As I looked into their faces, I was reminded that this generation raised me. They taught me about Jesus. They sacrificed for me. They gave of their finances and time. Most importantly, they prayed for me. They encouraged me when I came to the convention. How could I not feel like I was standing in a room full of spiritual mothers?
Today I received a thank you note from their leader. Yes, people still actually write thank you notes that aren’t a Facebook message. Once again, I was reminded we should honor those who have gone before us.
As a leader, how have you honored those before you? How can you be an encouragement to them? I shudder at the thought of losing this generation of women. They are the backbone of many churches. The biggest honor we could bestow is to take up the mantle for missions by giving, praying, sending and going. We can honor them by deciding our retirement from work is only a step into a new phase of servanthood. Until we face eternity, let’s press on toward the mark of Christ Jesus. He’s not through with you.
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.
