www.creativeladiesministry.com

[BarbaraJean]

Are you gifted?

I've been asked to be a speaker for a breakout session at our State Ladies' Retreat next month. My topic - "Testing Your Wings". My goal - help ladies find a place in their local church and community to minister in the gift given them by God and to do it with passion and dedication.

I would love to know how you all are using your gifts to build the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 4:10 (Just in case you say, "No, I'm not gifted.")


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God Is Good All The Time. . .
Barb

[Prov31wannabe]

[Oma]

For 10 years I was in Children's ministry. With all humility I say that I was GOOD, but then we all know why that was God working through me of course. I love to teach and my heart is really drawn to little children.

Then we moved. We now live 60 miles from my old church. It was very hard for me to leave my church family. But harder still is that my new church home is so small that there isn't much of a children's ministry. Most of the teachers are already established. I have felt very much like a fish out of water.

Shortly after joining my new church home the church went through a split. Half of our congregation left. The half that remained was hurt and angry. I prayed that God would make me like a soothing oinment for those around me.

I don't know why but this past Christmas I got more cards thanking me for "ALL that I had done for the Church" I didn't realize I had done anything. Until recently.

One of the gifts that I rated highest at was hospitality. I guess God used me to help those hurting and angry feeling change. I know that He seems to be moving me toward Woman's ministry which seems odd to me. But I will do what He asks. I just recently taught the ladies of my Church how to make a baby quilt and they all asked if I would help pull together a Woman's Retreat in the spring............

So, I guess God is changing my ministry. I hope it includes writing and teaching because I really enjoy doing that.
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ysiHn&l;
Deb

[BarbaraJean]

Thank you so much ladies! This is what I'm wanting to hear.

As a pastor's wife, I see such a need for dedicated workers in the church. But I am also learning to delegate more - not assume that nobody wants to do it.

I've been praying that my 30 - 45 minute session with these ladies will truly inspire them to be about the Father's business. Your input is going to help so much!

It sounds like you are doing wonderful work. I want these ladies to realize that you don't have to be gifted in public speaking (preaching, teaching) or music to be used of God in the body of Christ. There are so many other needs within the church. And you are helping me see them!
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God Is Good All The Time. . .
Barb

[jodi]

I received a great offer of help from one of the ladies in my church recently. This lady is one who would not readily volunteer for any kind of public speaking or spotlight position. However, she volunteered to be in charge of purchasing supplies for the church. This was a huge help to me because I was trying to do this myself (on top of being the pastor's wife, teach a SS class, work full-time, etc). I was always having to buy things at the last minute and not always at the best price. This lady has time and the ability to be a frugal shopper and use the church's money wisely.
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Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[Allena]

Phew, you certainly get us thinking here! Forgive me if I don't want to answer the question (yet) because I need to pray some more about it, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU for asking the question and making me face it. I am in a situation where I *think* I could use a certain talent I have, but am unsure as to whether to take it on or not. It would be sticking my head above the parapet big time! Sadly our church is very ... ummm ... hard and stand-offish and needs to cultivate real Christian fellowship. I don't mean in a religious "be seen to do the right thing" kind of way but in a genuine, caring way. As it is, I've had an idea for a women's group for some time now but do not know how it would be received. Also, because of personal health problems, I don't know if I'd have the stamina to head it up. As I say, I need to pray more and ask the Lord but I know I've been shirking the issue so, once again, thanks for asking a provocative question. Blessings.
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Allena
Proverbs 3:5-6
http://www.crilly40.freeserve.co.uk

[BarbaraJean]

Jodi, YES! I'm going to use these as examples of how ladies are blessing their church in many ways. Your lady is doing something that some wouldn't even recognize as ministry but I know what you mean - what a blessing!

Allena, I'll pray that God will speak His will to you. I've heard stories of young converts who attended churches which offered no fellowship outside of normally scheduled services who would return to the "entertainments" they participated in before getting saved and eventually drift out of church entirely.

May I encourage you to read 1 Peter 4? You obviously see a need in your church. If your health is preventing you from doing the job, the Lord will provide somebody to team up with you.
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God Is Good All The Time. . .
Barb

[HomeschoolMom]

A few of the things I do.............

- I help with the youth (7th-12th grade) rummage sales. I enjoy yard saling myself so I volunteered to help (things need to be sorted and priced beforehand, large donations need to be picked up and I help with scheduling that, I work the day of the sale, etc.). The kids come and put in hours as well, but there has to be some leadership present to keep them on track or they'd never get anything done. LOL!

- I teach/lead a GA's (Girls In Action) class. I was a GA so I get to relive all the wonderful memories I have plus I don't have a daughter so in a way my GA's are all my *daughters*. I get just as excited as they do when they earn various badges and the hugs and smiles I get every week are priceless. I have also been able to use my involvement in this ministry to reach out to a ministry on an island in the Carribbean where we have friends serving as missionaries for a while. We have collected needed items for children there, written letters to the missionaries (my friends), and are working on Christmas cards that we'll be sending down for the children. Missions is something that means a lot to me so GA's is a great place for me to serve (since we study missions) and it's really cool that we have a family from our very own church out on the mission flield to reach out to.

[kristen]

Well I have been watching to see what ladies are sharing about their gifts. I have been thinking about mine. As someone said I don't want to "blow my own horn", but I do have a few things that I do well. I enjoy telling stories to children. I do missionary stories and Bible stories. I must admit I can hold the attention of all the adults as well. I have been doing this for about 30 years. I'm not that old either...I started when I was a teen. I teach childrens Bible clubs in the public school here. So I guess maybe teaching is one of my gifts. There are a few other things I do too but I won't go into those right now.
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I enjoy this sight so much. I look at it daily

[Terry]

I have been waiting to follow the command in Titus for the older women to teach the younger ones! I've done sunday school, nursery, Awanas & recently headed up the Social committee at our church. I now go to a small church & there isn't really a women's ministry. God has been talking to me & convincing me that at 45, I AM NOW THE OLDER WOMAN!
He is leading me to start a woman's retreat for next spring, He is encouraging me to start workshops at our church on Sats so everyone can come. I am delveloping a list right now. Any sugguestions- I'm open to them I lead a women's night bible study and I put out a women's church newsletter. I tried to get a job as a teacher & I was already to go get my teaching credential this Fall. I already have a BS. God closed all doors & said no to school. I am at home full-time & I know where He is leading me. I am stepping out in faith because I've never done women's ministry before! This site is such an encouragement! Julia, I use your devotionals as a bible study starter a lot. Thank you for sharing!! I can't wait to see the blessings from the Lord as this ministry begins in my church.

[BarbaraJean]

[quote="Prov31wannabe"]

[BarbaraJean]

By the way, my previous post was not posted at 1:33 am. It was posted at 9:30 PM on Sunday.
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God Is Good All The Time. . .
Barb

[Prov31wannabe]

I've done a few spiritual gifts evaluations but the last couple were probably the most accurate.
I'll have to find them and let you know what ministry/book they came from...
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Colossians 1:27 ...."Christ in you, the hope of glory."

[Oma]

Wow Terry reading your post kind of made me think of what I am going through..........children's ministry, small church, heading up a retreat <<grin>> Maybe we can encourge each other.

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ysiHn&l;
Deb

[Allena]

Hi there,
Forgive me but I just had to tell you how the Lord has been moving in the gifts area we've been talking about. I'd said previously that I'd had an idea for a group in our church but was unwilling/scared of broaching the subject. Well, things have moved on. As background, I should tell you that I have been chatting in the Crafts forum about a craft project (fabric pineapples) that I'd been planning to do with our Girls' Brigade. (If you hop across to that forum, you'll find out what I was saying. I don't want to bore everyone by repeating myself!!). Anyhow, as it happens, I was told on Sunday that the class I'm to teach this year will not be my usual senior class, but the junior girls instead. The hospitality project I'd planned is not really suitable for younger girls so I was feeling a bit disappointed about that, but hey, it happens. Anyhow, shortly after talking to our GB Captain, I was approached by another lady asking if I'd be willing to "demonstrate" at a Methodist Women's Assoc meeting in our church. Immediately my pineapple/hospitality project sprang to mind and I found myself agreeing! Now, you've got to understand that normally I'd run a mile from public speaking/demonstrating, especially to an MWA group. However, having been thinking about our topic regarding gifts etc, I was prepared. I feel this could be the run-in that I've been looking for to get a ladies craft and bible study group started up in our church. Wow! Isn't the way the Lord works just amazing?!! I hope this excited rambling makes sense, but I just wanted to tell you what had happened and thank you again for stirring my thoughts and prayers.
Blessings.
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Allena
Proverbs 3:5-6
http://www.crilly40.freeserve.co.uk