Hey, Everybody! I think we may be on the verge of some fun in this post. My good friend, Angela Cottrell, and I were talking recently about how cool it would be to hear women testify publicly to the creative ways God has used them to serve people.
But one reason many of us may struggle to find our stride is that we shortlist limitless possibilities into categories we could count on three fingers of one hand. We assume that to serve God effectively, it must look like __________________ or be similar to ________________________ or maybe ______________________________. And we don’t feel like those are a fit for us. Or perhaps we don’t have opportunities to serve like that. So, what happens? We sit down bewildered and unsatisfied and feeling lame.
But what if we gave God credit for more creativity than that? What if we realized that there are as many ways to minister in the name of Christ as there are needs out there?
No matter how familiar Ephesians 2:10 may be to you, read it again:
The same God who created the galaxies in their vast array, the seas in their unsearchable depths, the beasts of the field with spots and stripes, who landscaped the horizon with pines and cedars and sequoias, and set in motion some 37 trillion cells in the human body…
…This same God created us in Christ Jesus for good works.
His creativity did not come to a screeching halt on the Sixth Day.
He is never uninspired and uncreative in His work. The primary way He spreads His broad hands throughout this needy world is through gloves made of warm human skin.
All of us have opportunities and they are as diverse as the people trying to leave their footprints in the loose dust of this passing planet.
If all our works in Christ’s name look exactly the same, something has run amok. Massive populations and types of people become invisible in our shortsighted vision.
I love the wording of Acts 10:38 – “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Since His ascension to the right hand of God and the coming of His promised Holy Spirit, each generation of Christ-followers is anointed by Him to go about doing good and to see Jesus heal multitudes oppressed by the devil. And behold, Jesus says, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
Shine your flashlight on the less familiar wording of these two segments from The Message, holding it right up close to the catch words of creativity:
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4-5
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”? Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. Isaiah 40:27-31
If God has shown creativity with the way He has used you to serve people OR if He’s done something off the beaten path with your life as a benefit to your sphere of influence, testify! You don’t even have to sit and analyze whether or not your example fits the category of “creative.” Do you get chances to go about doing some good in Christ’s Name?
Then share how!
And may a whole world of ideas and possibilities open up to some very willing sisters out there.
I am so anxious to read these! So much love to you!
Oh Beth,this post has made me laugh! I have had some strange encounters while being on some assignments, that’s what I call them. Two post ago I wrote about being a widow for 27 years and still being “raw” about it. I have been on a journey of knowing the “realness of my LORD” since my husband died. JESUS is real I know that now. Most of the time He sends me on individual assignments. One that comes to mind is being a volunteer in an ER. This man came in the ER as a code. They doing CPR on him, and then we tired everything to keep him in the world ,but he died. So how this ER did things back then is that you get the body ready for the family to come in and see them to start the grieving process. This was my first code and having lost my husband suddenly it was a little over whelming too. I never got to do the ER thing with my husband. He was pronounced on scene and went straight to the morgue. So I’m thinking about all this and trying to help. The wife came in and cried so pitiful I could hardly stand it. The doctor, nurse and I were in the room at first and then it was just I. I was there to assist the lady if she needed anything….drink,eat, make phone calls….ect. It had been 17 years since my husband had died and I had grown a lot in the LORD, but I could not believe He had put me in this situation. I was calm, but thinking LORD have you lost your mind!!!! I learned to talk to Him that way, or I never would have made it. I talked to Him just like He was my husband and Yet I know the holiness of Him. He has became my everything! Anyway the lady turned around and looked at me and said, “What am I going to do now,he’s gone.” Right then I knew exactly why I was in that room with her. I confidently walked through that open door and told her about Jesus and how He helped me. We stayed there talking 45 minutes about the reality of death and how in one minute his skin is warm and the next it is cold. Y’all that can mess with your head big time. Big thing I told her and I tell you is when you can’t pray or don’t even won’t too. Just say JESUS! That one word “JESUS”has got me through more than anything. Just say it over and over til you began to feel His strength rising you up. Works every time! I would have to say to this day I try my very best to be obedient to Him even when I don’t want an assignment. Jesus does know what He is doing. You can trust Him.
Thank you Beth for reminding these last couple of days I can trust HIM!!
Waiting on HIM,
Cynthia
I really loved reading this! Thank you! SO HOPEFUL AND CHRIST CENTERED AND SO Romans 8:28. Reading this blog is better than a Christian magazine. SO AUTHENTIC and real! Thanks!
Thank you – you will never know how much this post means to me. May God bless you.
That was the sweetest most godly story of encouragement! You have been blessed and it just poured out of you to me! Thank you so much.
So blessed to hostess Bible Study the past three summers and one fall study for “Moms of Boys”. We started with Kelly’s NEHEMIAH, then did Beth’s JAMES last year and this summer COTD. We have gone from a group of 8 to 28 this past summer. Ladies varied in age from 17 to a great-grandma! It has been amazing to watch the ways God has used these groups (too many to count here). I’m also sorta uber-creative. I saw something on FB once that said a creative brain is like having 2,753 windows open and running on your desktop at the same time. I get that. The Lord has also called me to homeschool our 3 kids – never in a million years would I have thought that was going to be part of our family experience. But He uses my creativity constantly there. I love photography, graphic arts, and making anything I think is ‘do-able’ on Pinterest or Etsy. While I botch just about every post I ever put on FB or Twitter, I tend to do a fairly good job of writing up communications/encouragements/devotionals for my circles of influence. Finally, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the Lord uniquely – and I mean UNIQUELY – has been equipping me to be my man’s wife. It takes a certain brand of psychosis, bravery, passion, FAITH and Holy-Spirit-granted-protective-ignorance (on my part) to do that job well. And it’s my most rewarding and amazing job of all. All Jesus every day to do any of this in a way that brings Him glory. Thanks for building me up, LPM!
Oh – and I love to pray. All sorts of ways and for all sorts of people – right smack in the grocery line with a person who, seconds before maybe, was a complete stranger. When He uses me specifically through my prayers to bring healing to another’s hurting body or heart – to speak something that is obviously HIM because I can’t explain what on earth I’m talking about or why but it… breaks through… it’s amazing. And I’m nothing. NOTHING and mush when He does it. He blows my mind. So I pray. Praise Jesus.
We recently moved to a small town where I have been feeling a bit “lost” in the mix, not knowing exactly what to do with myself. I kept thinking, “Lord, use me somewhere. I can’t believe you moved me all the way out here just to let me sit around.” He started showing me where He IS using me. I’ve turned into a good listener. Now that I actually have the time to sit and listen to friends, without having to worry about the time, lunch hour, or what is next on my agenda, I realize that He has called me to this place to listen to women who either aren’t or don’t feel like they are being heard (if that makes sense). I’ve also been afforded the ministry of repainting and helping with updating a tired church facility. Who would ever think that the willingness to show up with a paint brush and spend time repainting a nursery or children’s classrooms or the sanctuary would be a ministry? But it is! And I am loving DIY ministry in my new little church!
Linda, if I lived near you I would call you up and ask you to teach me how to repaint and repurpose furniture. To make something feel “homey” is a ministry, no doubt! I love that.
I loved today’s post! And I’m also loving “Children of the Day!” I literally laughed aloud reading your description of Star trying to herd a possum…thanks so much for loving us and sharing your gift…love you and appreciate you far more than I could ever say!
This summer I treated 8 kids heads for lice a a bible camp so they could stay for the week. Spent many hours with these kids picking nits, shampooing and of course got lice myself. Butninwouldnt trade the time with those kids and sharing Gods love with them.
That is a servant’s heart…..Bless you
That is precious thank you!
I was one of those who thought that computers would never last. They can’t replace paper trails (and sometimes I wish we still had them) was my mindset. I learned what I had to know to do my job. Now at almost 70, I have found a way to serve the Lord in a capacity I never thought possible. I am working in the media dept of a 1,000+ membership church. I enter words for the songs and scripture and run broadcast for our TV broadcast. It is a service that can be done behind the scenes. No fanfare, just assisting people in their worship experience. It has given me a new purpose to serve the Lord and the church. Looking forward to Beth in Memphis this weekend!!!
Hi! About five years ago God began grooming me for public speaking. I was at a women’s business networking meeting and was invited up to speak after a small workshop. As I went to the mic and began talking I realized I wasn’t even a bit nervous as I looked out at 150+ women. Shortly thereafter, I began to search for places to share my testimony. I’ve now shared about a half dozen times. My story is one of hope and healing. Depression plagued me for many years. In 2006 I was suicidal and hospitalized for three weeks. With God’s amazing Grace, therapy, and love and support from family and friends, I a have not had a major depressive episode since 2006. God’s creativity in my is truly astonishing. The Holy Spirit speaks through me. Amen!
4350 St Rt 60
I’m probably gonna get a scolding for this but I’m gonna tell the story anyway ‘cause it blessed and humbled me……
I was on my way home from the little Farm Market down the road, where I’d gone to get the “fixins’” for Sunday lunch, when I passed a young girl walking down the state highway. She was dressed in black with pink dyed hair and lots of tattoos, and was wiping her eyes like she was crying…..I heard the Lord speak to my heart. “Pick her up”.
Say what???? I kept driving but felt that persistent tugging at my heart. I reached my road, turned in and stopped halfway up the driveway. I just sat there for a moment, questioning my sanity, and prayed, “Ok Lord, I need to be sure this is you”
Sensing nothing now but a spirit of calmness, I turned around and headed back down the road, hoping someone else had already picked her up.
Part of me is thinking “what the heck am I doing….I’ve got nothing to defend myself with but a sack of lunch meat”…..and “if my husband knew what I was about to do, he would kill me” But I kept driving as if on automatic pilot and then I saw her again. Wouldn’t you know there was a perfect spot right in front of her for me to pull over.
I rolled down my window and said ” Is everything ok? Do you need a ride somewhere? I thought maybe you were crying.”
She looked confused. I said “I passed you and you were wiping your eyes.” She said “Oh I’m hot and sweaty and I got some mascara in my eyes”. I said again, “Do you need a ride? Where are you going?”
She said “Well, that would be nice; I’m going to 2nd street”. She hopped in the car and I realized parts of her skin were dyed the same color of pink as her hair….
.I said “I felt like The Lord told me to pick you up”. She smiled, looked up and said “Thank you Lord”.
She said she was walking home from church (I’m thanking the Lord in my head at this point). She said she was so hot and her feet were blistered from her dress shoes and it was about an hours walk to home. I said “Well sweetie, The Lord is lookin’ out for you today, cause I’ve never picked up a stranger in my life”. (let alone a pink tattooed one I’m thinking silently to myself). She smiled and said. ” I’ll be walking back to church tonight too. We chatted a bit as I drove her to her home and then she got out thanking me once again…..
I headed home marveling at The Lord looking out for one of his children with shoes too tight and blisters on her feet…… and humbled that a young girl would walk an hour each way twice on Sundays to go to church…. Thank you Lord for determined faith, sometimes found in unexpected places……
Beautiful! Thanks!!!! God looks at the heart. I so want to have HIS vision!
I get to do some of the tough cleaning for my sister-in-love for the next month at her house while she brings a sweet new life into this world.
Speaking of which….
Our family would appreciate any and every prayer you might send up on her behalf as one year ago, she had to deliver my precious nephew stillborn. This has been an anxious time for all of us as she gets closer to her due date with this sweet little girl inside her.
Love to all y’all at LPM!
In 2008 God called me into the Holy Yoga ministry. Holy Yoga combines the Hatha yoga with intention worship of God with our body, soul, and spirit. We worship and celebrate God through movement and meditation. God had a sense of humor when He called this 61 year old grandmother to become a certified Holy Yoga instructor. One of my spiritual gifts is “creative communication”. I am not a singer. God sure surprised me!
I have a passion in today’s craziness to bring God’s message of “Being Still and knowing that He is God!” We as women especially, do not give ourselves permission to do this. But He commands us to it. He even created an entire day of the week just for us to do just that! I explain to people that God meets us in that still quiet place. We have to be intentional and purposeful in our pursuit. I bring God’s words of Hope, Joy, His presence and rest every week to class since that certification, always experiencing God’s working in the participants hearts, spirits.
What an amazing creative Creator!
I have always loved yoga and thought it would be so cool to combine drawing close to God with yoga! When I read your post I got so excited that you are doing that! I would love to do this too. I am going to look up Holy Yoga Ministry!! Thank you for sharing!
The Lord has set me free from so many areas of bondage. It’s taken years but He is so patient with me. I praise Him!!!! For the past 18 months i’ve been doing prison ministry in a maximum secure women’s facility. God is transforming these women into His likeness. It’s beautiful to see the Word of God work! My past enables me to relate to these women and encourage them. God is so good!!! Thank you Beth for allowing us to encourage each other and to remember God has the perfect plan for each of us and everything we do it’s for His glory!
We as a ministry couple (50 yrs) always look at our life as on assignment ,,so each new neighborhood brings new opportunities to reach out to especially unsaved neighbors .
Our last neighborhood I was the welcome lady taking muffins to welcome to neighborhood
Which resulted in leading 3 ladies to Christ.i’m now taking muffins& fruit to 3 widower’s
& sharing Christ,,,
I love to take pictures; I can’t resist a bee on a flower. I began gluing the photos onto blank cards. I would choose a Scripture that I felt might encourage or comfort them. Then, I would them send them out to folks. Often, people comment that it arrived at just the right time to minister to them. God is so gooooood!
What a beautiful idea! Seeing God in nature speaks of His steadfastness in life and His hand on everything around us.
I am totally in tears right now. I was driving tonight talking with the LORD & up in arms about how what He has called me to looks nothing like ‘ministry’.. or at least ministry in a box. I am always back at His feet saying. ‘Are You sure God?’.. Well He is. My God uses me to serve Him in… Real Estate. Buyers, Sellers, houses, Title companies. Nothing fancy. Completely true. He also uses me to buy peoples groceries. Well.. and open doors, smiling at what the world would consider the ‘unlovely’, chatting with the store clerk a little bit longer caring about her long hour job, praying for my beautifully odd neighbor every time I pass their house.. He just absolutely cares about every intricate part of our lives. Love Him.
Lisa – I love this! Thank you!
God gave me the idea to love a couple of families where both parents work and have their hands full with kids by going into their homes after they’ve plowed through it trying to get to work and school on time and tidying up. I make beds, clean up the kitchen, put away and pick up their laundry, etc. It’s a gift to my heart to see how spending an extra hour or so of my day serving them can make a world of difference in the peace that flows through their home as the family gets to come home from school/work and spend time together without the stress of some of the household chores needing done. :).
Emily, yours made me cry! That is such a beautiful way to serve. I only “work” (at a job, that is!) 2 days a week and often wonder how they do it in households with 2 working parents. Even as a mostly stay-at-home mom, I would be grateful to be served in this way, and I can’t even imagine how much it blesses those families!!! You keep on loving them!
God has given me the opportunity to take care
Of grandchildren! We do art projects and learn
About God together. I also tutor Spanish for free to
A missionary and her family. It energizes me.
I never thought I’d enjoy my days revolving around children and food…our culture shines the spotlight too much on the have-it-all-and-look-the-part woman…but here I am, learning the beauty of simplicity and humility in caring for kids and providing food for various things. It’s fun, actually. And there is certainly limitless room for creativity,
I know exactly what you are saying! The Lord is teaching me that too! Never thought it would be me, but here I am in that same boat.
I teach Communication to college students. Somehow, and maybe because of the subject matter, these students will open up their heart to me that they might not to say, their math teacher. 🙂 I can’t tell you how many students have written out their pain to me or have come to me privately and cried (even the guys!) I ask to pray for them, and no one has ever declined. Sometimes I wish I could be doing something “exciting” for God like going to India to fight human trafficking or whatever, but then I think of my dear students and know God has placed me in that exact spot to know them and listen to them.
We assume that to serve God effectively, it must look like _____perfection_____________ or be similar to ___________hers_____________ or maybe _____why even bother______________.
Nothing but a big fat lie!
I’ve always had a passion for cooking and feel most comfortable when I’m in my kitchen. A peace comes over me while listening to Etta James and whisking up a Béchamel sauce. There’s a satisfaction in creating a meal for my family or company. I view my dining table as white canvas and love putting pretty things on it that make them feel loved and honored. It’s a creative way of expressing what’s on my heart, which says, “Come and sit awhile with me and tell me all about you.”
In serving the Lord by helping people in different ways, I have been more blessed than imaginable. A young mother in our church went home to be with the Lord due to a brain tumor. She left behind two very sweet young daughters, one 9 and one 6. I met had the Mom when I first attended this church as she had been a single mom previously as had I. Me being several years older though, we didn’t really socialize too much outside church. After she died, I would see those two little girls in church every Sunday, little frilly dresses and socks, so cute with their Dad. I wondered if their Dad would allow me to take them and spend some time doing fun activities. I finally approached him one Sunday just to let him know what a blessing his wife was to me when I first attended there, and ask if I could help with the girls….well he was so open to that. He is a wonderful, Godly Dad albeit a construction worker and not too comfortable with doing ‘girly’ things. So since then I have taken the girls on day outings do get our mani-pedi’s, to bake and decorate cupcakes, to dye easter eggs and go to the movies. These two precious girls have given me more blessings just to see their strength and faith even though losing their mother at such a young age. They have actually caused my faith to grow just watching these two sweet girls carry on with learning about Jesus. I have never once heard either of them feel sorry for their self over losing their Mom. Oh, that we would learn not to complain over silly things…. Love to all at LPM.
18 years ago, my twins were born 13 weeks premature, weighing just over 2 pounds each. They were in the NICU for 4 months – with many complications, surgeries, infections, setbacks, etc. God was glorified, though, by their little lives. He healed them by his great mercy. While they were in the hospital, I stayed in the Ronald McDonald House. I was so touched by the volunteers there and at the NICU that brought comfort to sick babies, kids, and their families. Women I didn’t even know knitted preemie caps for them, made them Christmas stockings, etc. I have always been an avid cross stitcher, but I never realized I could use that outlet as a way to minister to others. About 10 year ago, I found an organization called Lovequilts.org. They make quilts for children with life-threatening or life-long illnesses. The quilts are made of hand cross-stitched squares from volunteers all over the world. Each child chooses a theme for their quilt. Stitchers can read the child’s bio and see their picture and sign up for that child. So much love and so many prayers are stitched into each and every square. It is such a joy for me to reach out to these kids and their families, because of the caring Christian women who reached out to my babies and my family years ago. This is the verse I use then I tell people why I stitch: He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4
I have served in so many areas over the years. Led a women’s ministry, organized summer VBS for 600 kids, ran a church bookstore and served on the staff for a large church for many years. 5 years ago the Lord took me out of all of that. I became a helper to my husband in his business as well as taking care of my 2 granddaughters 2 days a week. I’ve always wanted to learn to quilt so he opened those doors for me too. Now days, I spend 4 days a week caring for grandchildren and I have a ministry of ladies who make quilts for newborns in Rwanda. These moms delivery their babies and many of them have nothing to even wrap them in. The quilts have a label translated for them that simply says “Jesus loves you”. The people who deliver the quilts get to pray over the women and babies. It’s such a sweet ministry. So at almost 54 years old, I get to serve by spending time with my grandchildren, attending baby story time at the library, attending kindergarten parties, hugging my grandbabies and sewing these adorable quilts with a group of ladies who simply love the serve. I’m blessed.
Wow! What an amazing ministry! I’m sure you’ve touched the lives of so many sweet mothers with your quilts, to God be the glory! I’m so glad you shared. =)
I loved this post and here’s why… in 2012 I separated from my husband, whom I believed didn’t really love me. We stayed separated for a while, while much to my surprise, God worked on my heart along with his.
Last year, I moved back. I thought then that it was just because I couldn’t afford to live on my own anymore. Now I see that it was to serve my ailing husband and to bring us close again.
I’m still a work in progress, but I am so glad that He knows what’s best for me.
I am a knitter, and I’ve made several prayer shawls for friends. I keep telling God, it’s not a good enough way to serve Him…..exactly because of thinking like this post suggests – that I should have another bigger, splashier way of sharing Him. Knitting is a quiet, little thing. But I am beginning to see that I have been given an introvert temperament, and this is a perfect way for me. Thanks for making me think about this!
Robin: from one knitter to another, I truly think that knitting is incredibly therapeutic – not only for me, because I often pray my way through a prayer shawl or socks or a scarf or whatever – but also for whoever it is that receives whatever it is I’m making. And I definitely think that it is a fine, fine way to serve God. Thanks for sharing!
Your prayer shawls are wonderful – God will surely bless you!
I am an introvert and a knitter too and I’ve knitted chemo caps for cancer patients. It blessed me more than I can say. I knitted afghans and sweaters for missionaries as well – they are always so thankful that it surprises me. I think the handmade-with-love items makes them feel loved and cared for.
I plan to start knitting soft toys (teddybears) – don’t know yet for whom, but the Lord will show me.
God bless you!
God put on my heart, this summer, to lead a Bible Study for Mom’s whose kids have been messed up on drugs! I knew this would a small group- but size didn’t matter- encouraging the ladies did!! I felt led to use Breaking Free, because of the stronghold of guilt and incompetence as a parent can be overwhelming! So thankful to be used by God in this special way…. Encouragement!
The Lord has been encouraging to start serving more, even this morning through Hebrews 13 to be hospitable and to remember those in prison as if even you are imprisoned. This is going to be a stretch for me because having people in my home does not come naturally and causes me anxiety but His grace is sufficient and I know that He will lead me to the people to serve. May He bless me with a few angels as well.
Remembering those in prison is an even bigger stretch but I will start, of course, with much prayer and research those who may already have this kind of ministry. The Lord is made strong in our weaknesses, of which I have many. All He asks of us is to love our neighbours continually and to love Him abundantly. May His love flow easily through us all. God bless everyone.
I’m struggling to let go,…again.
it’s like a dance between god and me.
when I can let go and just trust.
that god will come thru for me and not drop me.
then I am amazed to find that god helped me.
god just helped me.
but when I am hesitant to trust.
when stuff just seems so big,
so overwhelming.. then is when god is coaxing me back to him, to Trust Him…
and mine has been just about like the eyes of that giraffe.
full of intrique and also curiousness.
I know once I was stuck in a snowstorm with bald tires.
and no where I tried had the tires to fit my old car.
no where but just One place, and this mechanic had them.
tigerpaw tires they were called then. and he said he had stashed them upstairs long before that thinking somebody would come someday needing them. he became my mechanic that day. he worked on my old Pontiac. then my Toyota. and now I have this new Subaru and I’m having all these new car woes, and I just really need god to lead the way, and take me to the solution because I feel overwhelmed again , and though this posting may seem odd to have on a ministry site such as this, it was in that mechanic’s garage back in those days, where I really learned to pray to god for the little things and then say thank you for them, such as when my old rusted Toyota did not want to let go of its rusted nut, and I’d be sitting on a shopstool praying for little truck to let go, and for god to hold onto my mechanic and protect him from all harm up under that truck. and I have found that when I most need something or someone that only god can lead me to , that often they are needing me to come to them too and be their customer, their client, that day, too.
Pat, you wrote: ” …I have found that when I most need something or someone that only god can lead me to , that often they are needing me to come to them too and be their customer, their client, that day, too.”
Thank you so much for this testimony – it is stategic and inspiring and lifechanging. God bless you.
thank you for understanding it.
it happened just today too.
I wrestled with god all night over it, didn’t really sleep at all, and got up this morning, and just went to find the man god had put in my dream on Monday night, he wasn’t there on Tuesday when I went, and so I went back today, having been told on Tuesday to come in the mornings.
so it blessed me to just go to this old friend today and seek his guidance, and I saw how very much I have missed him being my mechanic since I have this “new” car now that requires specialists for hightechsmartcars and such, and I just so much miss sometimes my good old mechanics whom cared for my good old pickup truck so lovingly. and so… I sought his guidance, and then took it and went straight to whom he thought could best help me with my dilemma , and that just took great trust, and god worked it out, and my prayer was that where I would come up short that god would just cover it and just make it all be okay, and all just work out somehow. … because I really needed help with this, I couldn’t solve it on my own, I needed this man’s help today, knowing that he takes god to work with him and takes god home with him at night, I needed someone to trust , to just help me, and I needed god to help me to just trust and to just act and do and then just let god fill in the rest. so, I hope it all works out. I still have feelings of anxiousness and such though, and pray god will just hold me in all of this. and when I left the place of solutions today, I felt in my heart a dearness towards those two whom chose to be of service to me today. my thanks to them. and to god for holding onto me through it, and not letting go, though I still had to do the footwork of being willing to trust and go there and walk inside and just speak my own truth. yet, I wasn’t alone, god was with me.
I love when God is trying to show or tell me something, and pursues me with the same message..urging, admonishing, and inspiring me. For some time now(many many years) I ‘felt’ a certain really huge calling on my life. I doubted it because it seems a bit ‘too good to be true’. For that I dragged my feet, but for the past 2 weeks…His Presence and Words are undeniable, and I am overjoyed! I say Yes to Him, whether I’m right or wrong. He has a purpose for me, and a big one. All Blessing, Honor, Praise, and Fame be to Him who calls creativity through the created by the Power of His Spirit, our Helper. <3
I have been without a permant, full time job for over a year now. I have a wonderful husband who loves and supports me, but I strongly believe that I should steadily contribute financially to our household. I adjunct teach at a community college 30 weeks out of the year, but I have no other income the remaining weeks. I have applied and interviewed for many positions for which I am well qualified, but am never selected. However, I believe that God has called me to serve right where I am. I have begun to write a scripture based devotional blog, and I continue to search for a job with praise in my heart. At this moment, God is calling me to wait, and to continue to do what I am doing. Praising God when all we feel like doing is giving up is truly a sacrificial praise, but I would like to share with everyone that praising God as I “wait” is the most rewarding service I have ever given.
When my husband and I moved back from Alaska a couple years ago, I thought I’d return to a full time job in the nursery and landscaping industry. After a valiant effort in the retail section of a greenhouse, it was clear this was not my calling! Instead I began to go to a nursing home in a suburb of my town twice a week. I was set up with several ladies to whom I would read or visit. For the last year I have been with “My Ladies” and I cannot wait to see them each time. I should admit that there is one old farmer that I have to check in on as well, and he is my one gentleman friend there! I didn’t think too much of this, though my husband is so encouraging and supportive, until I lost one of my ladies 2 weeks ago. She had just turned 63, had cerebral palsy, and we read the paper together. I had met a brother, but at the funeral, of which I attended, I was able to meet her sisters and share my fond memories. It was a tremendous loss to me, as I had become more than just hands to hold the paper for her. I had become quite dependent on her smile and her accountability on punctuality! I stepped out to action, spurred on by God’s leading and I cannot begin to say how incredibly blessed I am by each of My Ladies. All I do is read, or visit, and often I have to enter their worlds, as they cannot rejoin mine. It’s not complicated, not extremely creative, but certainly not the norm! (Something my 37 year old self has never been accused of!)
I love that you do this. It is so beautiful. We have so many elderly who are treated with such disrespect or neglect.
I used to volunteer while in junior high at a senior citizens’ home. I remember the shock when one of them was no longer there when I went, one week. It hurts to love people when they pass away but what a gift you are giving them while they live.
I share Christ with others one to one or a group of ladies gathered together. I love to study God’s word and share what I learned by writing encouragements and painting Art Parables of what I understand during my studies.
Each day is a new opportunity to learn and to share God’s goodness to me. I have not been as diligent as I could have been in this regard. So I repented as this was made evident to me and am moving forward in obedience to His purpose and calling on my life.
My plan until God tells me different is to study His Word-Pray, Paint, Tell…Repeat.
Over and over until Jesus Returns or I go Home to Him.
I share the Art Parables I paint and encouragement from God’s word online at http://artparables.com and http://lolo-livingoutloudonline.com
Well, I am a single mom. I always swore I wouldn’t be like other “single moms” and I would continue to serve and be who I have always been. Well as any MOM knows you are not the same after having a child. You have a heart explosion and aren’t ever the same.
So, I have been attempting to serve in the same ways I had before my baby Jewell Grace came along. It hasn’t worked and I am grateful for how He is changing me and showing me HIS ways are better than mine.
I have been moved away from some areas of serving in past weeks and this September I will be leading a women’s Bible study with my church. I am humbled and oh so excited about this change. Nervous about the responsibility, but excited to dig into the Word with widows, married moms, single women, and other single moms.
We are doing Children of the Day.
Jewell Grace…what a beautiful name! I love that!
For years I’ve struggled with the idea of “serving” God. If the endeavor wasn’t through church or a defined ministry then I wasn’t serving. I prayed and cried and quite frankly, complained (so counterproductive!) that God would allow me to serve Him. Now it’s so easy to see Him chuckling at me but in love, as an invitation to see that I am serving. I have a husband, four children, three daughters-in-love, and ten grandchildren. My day job is working in a special needs classroom in a public school and beyond that I am blessed to be given ideas that become devotional messages. Those messages have had quite a long journey but are now two books and a blog. So many people have told me how those words have blessed them, encouraged them and/or challenged them. I lead a ladies Bible study and am often asked to pray for family, co-workers, etc. So here I sit, poor, poor pitiful with no opportunities to serve God… Oh wait, except the plethora or ordinary moments, day to day life and chance encounters that He sends my way. I love the big, far reaching ministries, the Beth Moores and Joel Osteens of the world and of course would love to have that influence. For now, I’m blooming where God has planted me, in my little sphere, feeding, loving and praying. When God pulls me up by my roots and plants me elsewhere I do pray that I am wise enough to recognize His movement and enjoy that too. The key, I’ve learned, by God’s grace and mercy is to look for Him everywhere. The blessings and opportunities abound. We all just have to receive them.
Hi Beth:):) Thinking…most of the time, I think I am one of those that gets dissatisfied because I don’t really know what I should be doing, or what I can do as a stay at home mom with two preschoolers. But, I have thought about possible ministry opportunities often, especially over the last two years, because I became persuaded that I needed to do things differently than I had been doing them. To think differently, and to do differently, or else, I would backtrack into loneliness, and monotonous daily activities, start to not think with a transformed mind, and start trying to fill the void with endless attempts at entertaining myself with material things, or non-eternal pursuits for my own amusement.
I am realizing now that there are things I can do at this season in my life like send encouraging notes to others and go to neighborhood parks for the purpose of striking up a conversation with other moms that would hopefully lead to a witness opportunity. I could bake a batch of muffins for the local police or fire department and deliver it with a smile and “Jesus cares about you and loves you.” I could get to know my lost neighbors a bunch better, and maybe share with them about salvation. I could possibly try and figure out ways I could involve my kids in ministering to my community…I just know I need to do something! And I have to be courageous, because thrilling things like real Christian living requires that in abundance. Sorry for the long post, this is something that I really want to be able to finally do! Blessings to you today Beth.
I am in tears reading your post because I can relate to where you are. I am also a “KatyG” (from SC), and I am a SAHM to two babies under age 3. It is lonely sometimes and hard to feel like my day-to-day activities are very significant, and there is always the temptation to mentally escape into “non-eternal pursuits” as you said. Thank you for the encouraging ideas and a fresh perspective! “Thrilling things like real Christian living require [courage] in abundance”- I love that!
Both Katie & Katy: Don’t ever think of your babies as non-eternal pursuits. Be diligent in teaching them scripture thoughts now…and later the scriptures.. how to be thankful and to love others and to be aware of God all around them! As a grandmother and pastor’s wife, I can promise you that you will reap a harvest! Our walk with Christ best starts as a preschooler…learning to trust, learning to share, learning to love. These babies are your mission fields my sweet sisters in Christ!
Hi katiegfromtennessee,
I live in Tennessee also 🙂 . What a blessing your ideals were to minister God’s love to those around you. I want to encourage you to pick one of the ones you listed and don’t reason it to pieces. Just do it! You will be blessed and the receiver of your love put into practice will be blessed.
Sending you a Big Southern Mama Hug!!!
I never in a zillion years thought God would call my husband and I to be actively involved in missions in Haiti. We were doing just fine, sitting comfy, here in the states. Many assume because my husband is a doctor that he took the initiative. Afterall, we already were in the process of adopting a boy from Haiti. But my husband can’t take the credit. God found him. There’s much more to this story…and it’s worth your time to read on.
There was this guy named Brent Rutland and his wife Becky who took their kids to Haiti last year over spring break. It just happened that their son Jordan was injured while playing soccer in this remote, rural village of Neply, Haiti. They drove for hours around the island looking for medical help, only to discover that they were driving in vain. There is lil’ medical help available in this area. After arriving back home in Nashville, Brent felt like they should do more. They should do more to help and make a difference.
Just a few weeks later, this sweet boy named Frantzsky from Neply, Haiti became ill. Really ill. He has special needs and is in the care of myLIFEspeaks. He was found in the village, malnourished and unloved. He was found by missionaries walking through the village one day, lying on a mattress outside his home. It is suspected he remained alive due to a caring sister who would slip him food now and then. His smile is breathtaking. Incredibly precious and melts your heart within seconds. He had been sick for 2 weeks or so. High fever of 105 which had worsened with seizures. He had already been treated for malaria. Not once, but twice. The limited medical attention available to him said there’s nothing more they could do. It was clear that if nothing was done, he would die.
Frantzsky wasn’t eating. His caretakers were watching him waste away. Not knowing what else to do–they called Brent Rutland. They remembered that Brent worked with several doctors as an industry bench researcher. Brent said, “I don’t know why–I just called up Coby (which is my husband).” Coby & Brent had worked together on research projects over the years. But Brent now lived in Nashville and Coby lived in Austin. There really is no explanation other than God as to why Brent made that call. Coby discovered that there is a resistant form of malaria and the medication is unavailable in Haiti. Here’s the problem: we don’t know how to get the medicine there in time to save Frantzsky’s life. You can’t just write an order for a prescription for someone outside of the U.S. It’s complicated…but it takes time to get medicine to a foreign country!
So we prayed. And Brent called a doctor that he knew in Florida. The doctor said that there was nothing else that he could do…but he could ask his dad for help. Brent asked, “Well, who’s your dad?” On the other end of the phone, he heard, “My dad is the U.N. ambassador for Haiti.” A phone call later, the necessary medicine was picked up by a U.N. jet in Switzerland and flown to Port au Prince, the capital of Haiti. The medicine was administered to Frantzsky and within a week, this lil’ boy was better. Weeks later, the founders of myLIFEspeaks and Brent Rutland agreed that they should do more. They agreed to start a medical clinic and decided to ask Coby for help.
Brent wrestled with this idea for 2 weeks. He thought for sure that Coby would say “no.” He prayed that if Coby was the one, that he would answer the phone. (But Coby NEVERS answer the phone! It is a very rare occurrence to have him pick up your call). This day was different. Coby just happened to be in his car driving. At the very moment Brent called to ask Coby to be the medical director of their new clinic, Coby was on his way to speak to the Dell Children’s Women’s Trust Fund as one of three finalist for their $100,000 grant. Coby’s Pediatric ER fellowship was submitted because he wanted to pursue international/global medicine opportunities, advocacy projects and research opportunities for his trainees. Little did Brent know that medical missions is something Coby has desired to do his entire life!
Coby won the grant. He said YES to Brent. The clinic opened in August 2013. Our first medical team went in January 2014. Frantzsky is well. Miracles still happen. And God is good! God writes really good stories when we say “yes”.
I used to run a ministry for girls and, when that season of my life ended, I just expected for it to be… done.
Since then, nine girls (and one boy!) have lived under my roof through foster care or just preventative care (trying to keep families from having their children enter foster care). I have had everything from three sisters whose mother was incarcerated to a teenager whose mother left when she was an infant to a little boy whose mother was a teenager. I have treated head lice many times, served as a room mother in various schools in our town, purchased more pink clothing than I ever thought possible, learned jail visitation systems so children could see their parents if it was appropriate, etc.
There is SO much room for creativity with this type of ministry. Some of my favorite creative moments:
1. One July morning, the five little girls staying in my home woke up to find that the living room had been transformed into “Christmas morning” while they slept. I stayed up most of the night putting up decorations, wrapping inexpensive gifts, etc. Instead of snow ball fights, we had water balloon fights. Instead of hot chocolate, we had vanilla ice cream with candy canes for “spoons!” The girls are all older now and, out of everything we did together, this is their most vivid memory.
2. My former 13 year old foster daughter had never had a birthday party when she came to live with me. As her 14th birthday approached, I began celebrating the prior 13 years as we led up to her birthday. So, 13 days out from her 14th birthday, we celebrated her “turning one” by purchasing a smash cake and letting her eat it with her hands as a one year old would do. The next day, we did something to celebrate her “turning two” and so forth all the way up to her 14th birthday.
3. From now until December, I am going to be working on a solution to a basic problem that many foster parents have. When our foster children come to us, they typically come directly from the hospital with little to no belongings (this is because we do something called therapeutic foster care, which is a fancy way of saying “foster children who have suffered more than just mild abuse”). For example, the two little girls we are currently fostering came to us wearing hospital pajamas and flip flops. Nothing else. We actually had to take them to Target in those pajamas just to buy them underwear, shoes, etc. We only got basics that day (one pair of shoes, two pairs of clothes, toothbrushes, lice treatments, etc.) and it was still hundreds of dollars (we also had to go buy a bed — frame and mattress — within 24 hours because we agreed to take two children instead of one). There is no immediate financial assistance with foster care (in our area, you receive funds about a month behind schedule). So, for many foster parents, this initial outlay of funds is a really difficult aspect of fostering.
SO, I want to take a bunch of clothes that have been donated, sort out the ones that are stain free and look nice, wash and dry them, fold them and sort them into bins labeled by sizes. That way, when a foster parent gets a call at 11 p.m. that they are receiving a child, they can quickly go grab a couple of outfits that will help them get through the first few days with the child. Right now, these donated clothes are just sitting in black trash bags in a storage room at our foster care office. I want to put my Type A self to use and get this stuff cleaned and organized so it can actually be USED!
Amy Beth,
What a blessing you will be to others who are caring for “Other’s” children! We have an organization here in Oklahoma City called Citizens Caring for Children which is a non profit org that does exactly what you’re talking about. They’re set up to give out clothing, small toys, school supplies and help with Christmas to fosters when they start out with nothing. Thank God for you and your love for these children.
My husband and I are adopting a foster child tomorrow! we are so excited! She’s almost 1. Our other children are grown. In fact we just had our first grand child a little over a week ago, so she’s already aunt Kristina! lol
I think I’m a first time commenter!
Anyway, I believe that God has used me in my local grocery store. Now, I don’t work at this store, but we shop there so much and ladies, let me tell you that we personally, through the loads of money we spend there to feed our family of 9 children, we pay some of those worker’s paychecks single handedly!!
How God uses me is that if I’m in an aisle and I see a senior citizen looking like they’re struggling to reach something, or if they look confused or lost or like they can’t find something, I will ask them if I can help them. I know that store like the back of my hand in the dark, and so, I just feel lead to help these precious people not feel so bewildered in our modern world.
I just always notice that, in our age when everyone is glued to their phones, nobody notices anyone else around them anymore. I want to try to bring back common courtesy and so, I am sensitive to those who may need help in the grocery store aisle!
Leanne, this is awesome! I love it. You are right – we sometimes don’t even notice the people around us, but you are bringing light into these people’s lives. As a short person who often can’t reach the top shelf at the grocery store, I really appreciate people like you! 🙂
This just thrilled me to death. So I had to share after reading this post( even if it is late). My Sunday School girls of 7th and 8th graders asked me this last spring if we could have ‘Sunday School’ during the summer, but on another day. (Don’t you love that?!?). They actually asked to come together to study the Word of God over the summer! We only were able to meet five times, but we had a blast! And learned a ton! Praise God for hungry girls!
Wow! I am a first time commenter but a long time gleaner of the wisdom and insight God has entrusted to Beth to sow into others. I have done many of her DVD series and gleaned often more than my barns can hold from the homework! Thanks Beth! I so would love to just sit down and talk to you some day face to face. Now on to the creative ways God has chosen to use Gloria (often many times WAY out of my comfort zone).
1. OPEN HEART OPEN HOME
MY 1100 SQUARE FOOT HOME HAS NOT ONLY BEEN CALLED HOME BY
MY FAMILY (HUSBAND AND 3 CHILDREN) BUT TO A NEICE FOR 4
1/2 YEARS, GREAT NEPHEW 11 YEARS (NOW OUR ADOPTED SON),
AND MY DAD FOR 6 YEARS! NEITHER JOURNEY EASY BUT ALL
GOD ORDAINED!
2. OPEN HEART TO SERVE THE BROKEN IN JAILS AND PRISONS!
NEVER BEEN INSIDE A JAIL FACILITY IN MY LIFE AND GOD
PLACES AN OPEN DOOR BEFORE ME TO SPEAK TO THE PRECIOUS
WOMEN IN ONE FACILITY. UPON LEAVING ONE SAID, “YOU WILL
BE BACK WON’T YOU?”. HAVE BEEN SERVING THOSE LADIES WEEKLY
FORSTORE, 14 YEARS. SECOND FACILITY DOOR WAS OPENED
(BELEIVE ME, NOT BECAUSE I WAS KNOCKING ON IT) AND HAVE
BEEN SERVING THEM WEEKLY FOR OVER 6 YEARS. THEN THE THIRD
DOOR OPENS OF IT’S OWN ACCORD TO SERVE THE FEMALES ON THE
OUTSIDE WHO HAVE LOVED ONES INCARCERATED. BEEN SERVING
THEM IN WEEKEND ALL EXPENCE PAID ENCOUNTERS FOR 3 YEARS!
BETH, GOD BEGAN THE JOURNEY OF BREAKING ME FREE AND HEALING MY BROKENNESS AND HE DIDN’T LET IT STOP WITH ME. THE JOURNEY CONTINUES AS HE BIRTHED A MINISTRY THROUGH MY HUSBAND AND I! ISAIAH 61:1-3 IS WHERE WE ARE! LEARNING SOOO MUCH AND POURING LIFE INTO THE BROKEN ALONG THE WAY!
THEN SMALL WAYS I ENJOYING SERVING ARE: DISTRACTING CHILDREN AND ENTERTAINING THEM WHEN I SEE A MOM STRUGGLING IN THE STORE RESTAURANTS, ETC.; BEFRIENDING THE BROKEN IN OUR CHURCH; . . .
God has opened my eyes to view every gift of a vacation as an opportunity. He takes me out of my “sheltered” world of Bible study to encounter Hindus, Jews, atheists, hurting people, etc from all over the world. A young Hindu graduate student I met on a plane in January and shared a movie, starburst and the gospel with came down to Houston recently–we visited a museum, ate Indian food, watched One Hundred Foot Journey movie about Indian food….He said he didn’t think if I had met him in India that he would have been so kind. I told him the difference was Jesus. I have sent him cookies and movie gift cards and warm clothes, etc as he is far from his home. I loaded him up with Ben Stuart cds, a Jesus DVD, The Reason for God book, and brownies this time. A 50+ year old Christian homemaker and a 27 year old Hindu grad student. Only God! He crosses my path with believers needing encouraging and unbelievers needing hope and love= Jesus! I try to stay in contact with any that are willing. And I try to pray for each He brings across my path whether they stay in touch or not. I stand in awe each time watching Him at work…I don’t have clever words to use, but I have the Holy Spirit and God’s word. I feel inadequate, awkward at times but He is adequate! So when I see the door open, I step through trusting Him, knowing it is not about me–but is much and better than!
My husband and I moved to a small town and started our retirement occupation as realtors. Scarey and not exactly a perfect fit for me, but something my husband wanted us to do and I’m always up for an adventure! It’s been fun, challenging, but I’ve been longing for something a bit more spiritual. The phone rang and on the other end was a woman who said she picked me out of about 20 realtors in our community newsletter because my photo looked like I was a sweet person. We met at their home and learned that they need to sell their weekend home and move back up north to be closer to their family. She apologized for the stae of her home, but they have been busy trying to pack and move while she is having chemo treatments. She just found out about her cancer in April and the doctor thinks she has a few months left. She cried and I just sat next to her and held her hand. My husband and her husband got all the necessary documents signed to sell their home. They left to go home but will be back for her next chemo treatment soon. The vacation home is closer to MD Anderson. We told them we could help get their home ready to sell while they are gone. Today I was there cleaning and organizing their things. I prayed for them as I went from room to room vacuuming, dusting and straightening up their things. I did not think that I would find ministry in real estate, but God showed me that He will use us to be His hands and feet whever he places us.
Sometimes ministry opportunities are closing than you think. They literally came knocking on my door. Sweet girls on the verge of turning 13, heard we moved to their street. More than 6 girls lived in our tiny culdesac and God was opening our hearts to minister to them. We began meeting regularly, a bible study, a chat time, and for me- a learning time. To see the gifts and talents God has placed in them and to be able to speak truth into their vulnerable hearts. Little did I know that obedience would open a door to reach young women all over the US. God brought them right to our door, and maybe He will do the same for you! He never ceases to surprise and amaze me.
Thank you for this opportunity to share the creative ways He directs us to serve. I am so blessed through reading through these posts!
A friend and her husband developed a website as part of their ministry. (Risenwiththesonministries) She offers a blog to instruct and inspire, and I serve in a small way to help edit it. If we are open, the Lord can use skills we have developed along life’s way!
A small group of us belong to NOSDA (No One Shall Die Alone), an ecumenical ministry that serves as a presence to those in the last few days of their lives. Unlike Hospice, we do not help physically. (We only go to the local hospital and a care center.) We pray with people we serve, read (the Bible or other material, converse (if the person is able and wants to), play music, hold hands, sit quietly, etc. We relieve family members who need to get a good night’s rest but don’t want to leave their loved one. We serve around the clock for those with no family nearby. Most experiences are just quiet service, and a few are hallelujah moments when His presence fills the room!
11 years ago two little foster girls (8 & 12 yrs) were moved from our home, after being with us for 5 and 6 years. Sad time. Last weekend we flew up north to join in the wedding celebration of the older and this past week the younger one has been with us for the week!! The Lord used a very unlikely “thing” to facilitate this. . . the younger, now 19 made a random statement that she wanted lasagna and I replied that she should come over and I would make her some. Our conversation continued and she ended up coming. After horrendous years of being in care and almost destroyed, she has now decided she wants to enter a treatment program and get back to a journey of faith she remembers as a child. Who would have thought that offering to make lasagna could result in such a life change?!? Sometimes what I think is nothing, God uses for something!!!
When a neighbor gave me his 1992 Chevy cargo van to transport my large artwork, God planted an idea to pay this kindness forward. Three months and some auto repair work later, “The Cart” was founded.
The vision for “The Cart” is to reach my city through visual arts. Using this van as a mobile art studio and employing believing artists to go into the community centers of the inner city we bring creative art instruction to all ages.
With the good news of God’s love, and the message that His children have been made in His image as CREATIVE beings…we hope to raise up artists who will impact The Arts.
Taking Back Visual Arts for The Kingdom.
I am amazed sometimes the way God answers my prayers and the way He uses my prayer life. But there is one prayer that I don’t expect to see the results. My daughter and son in law were in the process of adopting a baby girl that we instantly bonded with. They brought her home from the hospital and had her for four nights and five days. This baby was held and loved on almost 24 hours a day. We thought it would kill us when they called to say the birth mother had changed her mind. Almost exactly a year later they brought home another baby girl from the hospital. She was born on their seventh anniversary after we had given up all hope of my daughter carrying a baby to term. My daughter and son in law touched this family’s lives in a way that never would have happened any other way. I pray for this baby that we had to give up every day. I pray for the mother, that God will raise her to be the godly mother He wants her to be. I pray for her parents and the birth father and her little boy that is the big brother. We still believe in adoption and we know our God is faithful.
I started volunteer teaching dance (kinda like rumba) to the entire student body at an inner-city school last year. I am now lead two more schools each week in dance movement. I use almost strictly praise music- and you should see the children dance with pure joy! I do not understand my calling here at all, but I am showing up and doing the work. I get paid with children who speak english as a second language writing me thank you notes that their grades have improved and they feel like they belong in their school now. Oh, and the hugs! Jesus- please use this to shape lil hearts for your glory!
I recently visited a loved one in an Alzheimer’s facility & your blog prompted me to see that if I couldn’t figure out my creativity I could just start here. They always have folks who have no visitors. I could branch out to nursing homes where the same lack of visitors exists. Thank you for your segment on Life Today, which is how I found your blog.
God bless you!!!
Thanks so much for your post Beth. Sometimes I wonder if what I do is real ministry or not. With a small group of friends at my church we make quilts for people who are suffering, not just people in our church but beyond its walls. Each quilt has a “God Loves You” label on it and judging from the reactions of people to the quilts, they do some good. People say they feel wrapped in God’s love when snuggled under one of our quilts, or that the “God Loves You” label is their favorite part, because it reminds them that God does love them in spite of their circumstances. So, this is just one of the little things I do that a number of people have told me is not real ministry. Thanks for saying otherwise!
Beth – I finally had some time to read this blogpost and I just had to share this with you – I have been doing your Bible studies since they came out and they have been life changing for me. God has used them to draw me deeper into His Word and into relationship with Him. Over the last 15 years He has taken a virtual “nobody” from the Midwest (moving myself and my husband to Florida) and plopped her smack dab in the middle of a Latin American ministry to the Pastor’s wives of the churches we are connected to in Central America. I have learned Spanish so I can communicate and the ministry was launched as He laid on my heart to bring 25 copies of the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study in Spanish to the leading Women in a church in Valencia Venezuela in 2004 (the year of the hurricanes in Orlando, FL where I now live! I went in August of that year) My heart’s desire had been to have a Beth Moore conference there, but since that was pretty much out of the question, we had a smaller conference and that led to organizing conferences in many of the other churches in the other LA countries over the years and working to bring encouragement and equipping to the pastors wives and other leading women in these churches. I never could have imagined being used in this manner and I have to say that God has used you and your sacrifice and example in a huge way in my life. Thank you, Beth, for you honesty, courage, perseverance, humor, and vulnerability. You have been used in the lives of people that you will never know about this side of Heaven!! And I can’t wait to meet you there! 🙂 Judi