Let Me Hold Your Hand Through the Shadows and Sunrises, the Storms, and Surprises.

I’m thankful that God’s placed others in my life that are in different seasons. I think it’s vital because it’s God’s way of showing me that these seasons that I might think are more desirable still have their struggles. Seeing my friends struggles  allows me to see things in the proper perspective rather than a Facebook perfect frame. The young mom with little ones who are sick must learn how to reach out her hands to God. She must learn to trust Him when she feels inadequate and alone pacing the floor back and forth to soothe the earached toddler. The older lady whose husband is resisting God must cry out to God and ask Him to hold her. The single woman must learn how to trust God even when she feels marginalized or inadequate. She must allow what God says about her to  define her.

Which is why small groups and cups of coffee (full caffeine 🙂 ) are, so important for women. I’m sure they are good for men too but since I am not a man I cannot say. 🙂  It’s vital to have other women in your life who can authentically point you closer to God. I know of these women in my life. What about in you? Learning from women in my life isn’t always easy for me. I am highly independent and quite sassy at times… And I’m also learning that while I desire to learn from women that are in different seasons and therefore wiser I must also incorporate what God has taught me to younger women….Ouch……That sounds…scary……… Titus 2 talks about older women training the younger women. Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth puts it best when she says that every woman (yes even you!) is an older woman to someone. If you are a daughter of the king then it is your duty to go love on another woman. It could be someone that is about to walk the same valley you are in now. Maybe God wants you share a heartache with another woman. I’m not sure ,but be courageous enough to pour your brokenness into another soul. I have thought I was going to minister to a woman before. And in my own selfish pride I thought I was ready to give all flavors of wisdom….oh, boy did I need a large dose of humility! I went to serve but in fact this beautiful woman challenged my faith! She challenged me to trust God in deeper ways. So enter ministry with a heart of humility.

Regardless or where you are or what you’re doing you’re being an example. When you visit that site that you know is a waste of time, or buy one more dress that you know you don’t need, (guilty!) you are being example. When you choose to spend your time wisely or bite your tongue when you want to sass like crazy you are being a godly example. People that don’t know Jesus and who are younger in the faith are watching. Your co-workers, friends, and family see your life and hear your words. Does your life and words match who you claim to be? Live a life that shines JESUS. Sometimes you will stand out, but don’t be afraid. The greatest people chose to stand above the status quo because they saw what others couldn’t see. As a child of God I know things of eternal value and therefore should live and speak in accordance.

If you are God’s women, then sister you are called to women’s ministry. You are called to mother younger women in the faith. First you must tell them about Jesus. And sometimes you must keep pursuing people, just like God continued to pursue you. Don’t give up on the salvation or the growth of those God has called you to minister to. He is faithful.
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” Gal. 6:9. Don’t give up on the people God has called you to minister to. And don’t give up on yourself either. You are a work in progress. If you are God’s child, then He is still fine tuning you for His glory. He continues to shape away at my selfish edges.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment, that you may approve that things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philp 1:6, 9-11.