Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A Heart That Encourages

Take Time to Be Filled

If you take time to sit at Jesus' feet and be filled by God's Spirit as you study the written Word, if you focus on overcoming internal obstacles to doing God's work, you will never lack for ministry. God's fullness in you will naturally overflow into the lives of others.  

Memorize Scriptures of Encouragement

Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

You can have the "ministry of encouragement" with everyone you meet. Your life and lips will offer refreshing encouragement to all who cross your path. Like our Messiah, you will be able to "speak a word in season to him who is weary" (Isaiah 50:4).

It's good to memorize some pertinent words of encouragement from the Bible to share with people in need. Knowing Scripture gives you a "word in season," something timely and appropriate to the situation.

Make Phone Calls to Encourage

Proverbs 12:25, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad."

An easy way to encourage and make a heart glad is to reach out and touch someone by phone. I'm not talking about calling long lists of people or even making lengthy calls. A simple, quick call can do much to gladden the heart of the recipient.

Write Notes of Encouragement

Writing notes -- by mail or email -- to those who need encouragement is another way to share a good word that makes the heart glad.  

Try the "3-Sentence rule" whether you're writing to the sick, the bereaved, those in leadership, or a recent hostess:

  • Sentence #1 conveys I miss you, I appreciate you, or I'm thinking of you.
  • Sentence #2 lets readers know they are special to you and why.
  • Sentence #3 says I'm praying for them and includes an appropriate Scripture verse.

Live Your Priorities

By living out your priorities you will teach and disciple many women -- without saying a word. The best way to teach priorities to others is to model those priorities. After all -- and this is another principle for us women after God's own heart -- one picture is worth a thousand words. 

Simply concentrate on being who God wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do. Concentrate on mastering your priorities. Don't worry about organizing your thoughts, preparing a lesson, and getting up in front of a group. Just walk among the women at your church and in your neighborhood doing with all your heart what you are supposed to do.

Heart Response

When you and I made our way through the section about our spiritual growth, we stretched ourselves. We set goals. We decided to do the work that growth requires. Our aim was to let God fill us up and prepare us for future ministry and service to others.

Now consider the simplicity and ease of the ministries we've considered here!

  1. Writing a note.
  2. Making a few phone calls.
  3. Speaking words of grace.
  4. Modeling God's priorities.

These are next to effortless. Each one, however, requires a heart filled with God's love and with sensitivity for others. Ministry is always a matter of the heart. If your heart is filled with a watchful concern for God's people, you will be privileged to refresh many souls in need of encouragement just like a rain cloud delivers much-needed moisture to a parched earth.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

A Heart That Shows It Cares

1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."


Reflecting on God's Plan

So far we have spent eighteen chapters looking at God's Word and seeking to determine what His priorities are for us as women after His own heart. We know of God's command to love Him supremely as found in Luke 10:27.

"So He answered and said, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.'"

Beyond that we have culled through Titus 2:3-5 over and over again where the priorities of husband, children, and home are spelled out.

"That the older women...admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers..."

And finally, we finished considering our self -- the nurturing of our spiritual growth. And now we come, by God's grace, to the out pouring and the overflowing of all that's gone before -- a life ready for rich ministry to others.

Learn to Reach Out

Again and again Jesus tells us to give -- to give to everyone; to give hoping for nothing in return; to give in the generous way God, who is kind to the unthankful and evil, gives; and to care for others by giving. You and I can learn to give in this way, to overflow with care for all others.

Yes, But How?

Your presence and sometimes a single touch are worth a thousand words.

When it comes to reaching out, remember this principle of ministry: Your very presence is a source of comfort. You may not have the exact words to say or the perfect Scripture to share, but in most situations, your touch can bring comfort far greater than words.

Be a giver.

Just as you and I learned with our husbands and children, we can give the smile, the greeting, the warm question, the touch, the hug, and the name (always use the person's name!).

Be bold.

Be bold and give to the people God places in your path, If, however, you find yourself avoiding a certain person, ask God to show you why. Sin in our hearts -- hearts meant to overflow with care for others -- keeps us from being confident in our relationships.

Become a generous soul.

Don't just give, but give liberally, cheerfully, bountifully, hilariously, extra, above and beyond. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7, "He who sow sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

Determine to withhold nothing.

Proverbs 3:27 exhorts us, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so."

What are some of the good things "in the power of your hand"? Praise, encouragement, thanks, a greeting, kindness, good deeds, and a note of appreciate are a few of the good things we hold. And you and I choose whether or not we will share these blessings.

Heart Response

I hope that your heart is at rest and that you have found your deepest fulfillment in seeing how God extends His love to so many through you. First His love flows to those people closest to your heart, those people at home. Then His love moves on through you to invigorate and refresh countless others.

As this happens, your gracious and generous God miraculously refills you, replacing and multiplying all that you selflessly give away to others.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

A Heart Enriched by Joy in the Lord

Spiritual Growth Is Aided by Discipleship


God's ideal plan for us as His women -- and another aspect of His job assignment for us -- is that we teach other women the "good things" we have been learning, that we mentor or disciple them, that we pass on all that God has taught us.

Titus 2: 3-4, "But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: [that] the older women ... be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things ... that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children."

The word discipleship can call to mind a variety of scenarios. Most often we equate discipleship with one-on-one, weekly meetings with another woman for years on end. While that would be wonderful, for most of us that is neither a reality nor even a possibility. We can, however, choose from some enriching alternatives if we really want to grow.

Classes

Churches in every town offer Bible studies and Bible classes. Correspondence courses are also available -- all you and I have to do is enroll, do the work, and let God grow us.

Books

Books offer another avenue for growth and help you develop skills for ministering to women. Book stores and libraries are brimming with volumes written by Godly women that tell of the Lord's faithfulness in their lives. You will also gain valuable insights and inspiration from reading biographies of great Christian men and women of history.

Counsel

Another valid form of discipleship is counsel from fellow Christians. If you're having a problem, ask a trusted and godly person.

Interviewing

Make an appointment with a godly woman and ask questions from a list that you have already prepared.

Observation

Make sure you are watching, watching, watching!  It's a great way to learn. In fact, one way to learn how to love, respect, and support your husband is to watch other women. When it comes to admiring your husband, for instance, "keep a list of how other women show admiration for their husbands." Watch, learn, write down what you learn, and then try those new behaviors yourself.

Spiritual Growth: Experiencing the Joy of the Lord

Your desire to grow in the Lord will empower you and inspire you to grow more. 

In your mind, picture a real woman you admire. Most likely, she is stimulating, challenging, energetic, and joyful. She is growing and fresh, excited and exciting, learning and willing to share what she is learning. She motivates you, and you love to be in her presence. She has nothing to fear, and you never hear her sigh or see signs that she's bored. For her, life is never dull!

Such a woman is probably involved in and committed to spiritual growth. She has spent time with God and been filled by Him so when she's in public, she can't help but share her love for Jesus.

Heart Response

You are blessed indeed if you know one of these joyful, enriched women who have responded to God's call on their lives. You will be even more blessed if you accept the invitation to do likewise. So take a moment and wait upon the Lord as you consider these questions:

  • Exactly how am I spending my precious God-given time and energy? Am I wasting it on choices that have no heavenly value or am I making the good, better, and best choices?
  • Do I acknowledge the value -- the necessity -- of time spent in preparation?
  • Is allowing God to prepare me for ministry even a goal of mine? Or am I letting time, and life, slip away unused, uninvested in eternity?
Catch His vision for you. Set aside time to make growth in Him a goal. Trust Him to provide you with opportunities to minister. The result?

A heart enriched by joy in the Lord!

Friday, May 8, 2009

A Heart Strengthened by Spiritual Growth -- Chapter 17

2 Peter 3:18, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Spiritual Growth Begins in Jesus Christ

You and I have two options for how we live. We can live our lives with Jesus Christ or without Him. It’s a clear-cut black/white, either/or situation. The Bible says, “This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life,” 1 John 5:11-12. As this Scripture tells us, there is no life without Jesus Christ!

A New Beginning

When you and I come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are given a new beginning, a fresh start, forgiveness for the past, wisdom for handling life, and power for doing what’s right. The apostle Paul explains it like this: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17.)

God’s Love and Acceptance

No matter what has happened, no matter what life looks like, no matter what you’re feeling, you are accepted in the Beloved – and nothing else matters! Indeed, God has “made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6)!

God’s Power in the Holy Spirit

Can you imagine having the power of God at work in your life? When Christ is your Savior, that’s what happens. God empowers you through His Holy Spirit to do good, to effect change in your life, to make your life fulfilling and meaningful, to help others, and to minister for Christ. Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8).

God’s Total Sufficiency

No matter what the problem, the hurdle, the struggle, the suffering you face, God promises, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Whether you’re dealing with temptation, a difficult marriage, problems with the children, needs in the home, personal challenges, loneliness, demands at work, health issues, a stretching ministry, or any other difficult situation, God promises, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Spiritual Growth Involves the Pursuit of Knowledge

Luke 2:52, “Jesus increased in wisdom.”

Proverbs 15:14, “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.”

Put another way, an intelligent person purposefully seeks knowledge, but fools nibble randomly, vacantly chewing on words and ideas that have no value, no flavor, and no nutrition.

What are you and I feeding our minds? Are we heeding this biblical warning about the danger of “garbage in, garbage out”? May we purposefully seek knowledge and guard against spending precious time on things that have no value.

Spiritual Growth Includes Stewardship of Your Body

You may have been hoping this subject wouldn’t come up, but we’re told in the Bible that how we manage our body affects our ministry and the quality of our lives. The apostle Paul put is this way: “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

The goal in the physical realm is discipline, the self-control that is a gift of God’s grace. His Spirit in us gives us strength to resist temptation, control our appetite rather than allowing it to control us, and to train our body into obedience.

Spiritual Growth Means Becoming Like Jesus

Increase in Knowledge

As we’ve seen, Jesus is our model. God desires for us to follow in His footsteps and grow in the knowledge of God as well as in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Like Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi, our prayer for ourselves should be that our “love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9).

Have a Plan

When it comes to increasing your knowledge of God, you have to do a certain thing (sit down) in a certain place (your place) with certain items (pen, paper, reading schedule, study guide, whatever you need) at a specific time (your time). When you do, you’ll enjoy a feast from God and His Word!

Do Something

So develop a plan, remember once again that something is better than nothing.

Spiritual Growth Blesses Others

Try these three ways to improve your relationships with people.

  • Mind your mind.

Your actions will reveal your attitude toward people. That’s the message of yet another Proverb: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Thoughts that are critical, negative, harmful, and jealous not only go against God’s Word, but they spawn actions that are the same.

  • Mind your mouth.

Our relationships with people are enhanced when we follow in the steps of the Proverbs 31 woman who “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness,” Proverbs 31:26.

  • Mind your manners.

The Number One way to be pleasing to God and approved by man is to be the servant of all. Our servant assignment from God is to give honor and preference to one another.

Heart Response

God calls you to love Him, first and foremost, will all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and to allow that rich love you enjoy in Him to overflow into your family, into your neighbors, into the lives of others. That’s why a heart strengthened by spiritual growth in Him is so very important.