Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I drew up the program and the paperwork and presented the idea at a Women’s Conference.  Almost immediately, there were eight wise “older” women who were interested in the program, but to my surprise, only two of them wanted to be mentors and the rest wanted to be mentored.  In my heart, I knew I had identified a need, but I didn’t know how to meet the need, because I was one of those that wanted a mentor.  Looking back on it now, and recognizing my immaturity in ministry then, I should have joined the eight of us together to learn how to become mentors, but I didn’t.  I connected a few women with the two women who said they would be mentors, but then decided to let the program fizzle.  I didn’t know how to prepare older women to mentor the younger women, I just hoped they’d know how, and I definitely didn’t know how to mentor the older women that I hoped to learn from.

Years have gone by, and I’ve learned a lot about Women’s Ministry.  I have mentored and been mentored as the ladies as New Life have learned how to minister to women together, but we have not tackled starting a formal mentoring program.  I’ve learned that a formal mentoring program may not be the best approach to meeting the needs of women who need a mentor and I agree, it isn’t what we need here.  What we need here is connection, it’s sisterhood.  My hope is that women become Soul Sisters who learn from each other as they study the word, pray, go through their daily lives, and serve God together.  There is a Biblical element of that sisterhood that is the older woman partnering with the younger woman to offer life skills coaching such as how to cook a turkey, get a child to sleep through the night, or organize a mudroom, Biblical training for spiritual growth and endurance through hard times,  and active listening during times of crisis or concerns.   We need each other and younger women need the “spiritual mothers” they can turn to with questions, with prayer needs, and with tears on days when life isn’t easy.

So, starting this Monday, at New Life, the Women’s Ministry will host a Women’s Connection: Mentoring Workshop.  This will not be a program, there will be no sign up sheets or procedure for matching up “older women” with younger ones.  It’s simply learning together with other women about mentoring.  This workshop is for those looking to find a mentor and for those who are interesting in mentoring.

Are you a mom who wishes you had one of those Titus 2 older women in your life?  Do you sometimes wish you could pour out your heart to someone who cared, but wouldn’t hold your hurts against you, or your husband, like your mother might?  Do you wish someone could help you figure out how to balance grace and mercy with training and punishment as you mother your children?  Are you looking for someone who has been through the things you are going through and who can help you hang onto hope that you will get through to the other side of this, too?  Do you have questions about where God is and what He’s trying to teach you?  Then, this mentoring workshop is for you.

Are you a woman who wishes you knew then what you know now?  Do you see younger moms, single women, or young married gals and wish you could whisper life-changing nuggets of advice and encouragement into their lives?  Were you able to pick up the phone and call your mom, your aunt, or your grandma, when you needed advice about marriage, mothering, friendship, cooking, cleaning, or even gardening and could offer that wisdom to a generation that doesn’t have that cross-generational connectivity with their own family members?  Do you have a little extra time now that you could give to a woman who desperately needs someone to listen and to speak into her life?  Has God given you insight into how He works and who He is that you could pass on in little pieces to strengthen the faith of another woman?  Do you want to be this older, wiser woman, someday?  If so, this mentoring workshop is for you.

It doesn’t have to be a long term, formal commitment.  Let me share this story about a mentoring opportunity God once gave me:

One day, I broke a tooth and couldn’t tolerate the pain of it anymore.  I called the dentist and they worked in an emergency appointment right after their lunch hour.  I arrived at the office, to find the waiting room empty.  I took a seat and looked through a magazine while I waited.  Within a few minutes, a woman and her young toddler arrived.  They checked in and she came and sat down next to me~ not one chair away, not on the other side of the end table to my left ~ but directly next to me, in an empty waiting room.  I was alerted, something was up.  I greeted her briefly and she said something about her little guy driving her to her breaking point.  I could see desperation in her face and immediately sensed that Jesus was the answer she needed.  I froze like a deer in the headlights.  I think I said something about her little guy being precious and gaga-ed over the cutie who was now throwing magazines on the ground.  I looked back at my magazine, turned the page aimlessly, and prayed for wisdom for a moment too long.  Just as I turned back to her to speak something that I hoped the Holy Spirit would say through me, my name was called and I grabbed my stuff and headed back to be tortured by the dentist (you know what I mean).  The whole time I was in the dentist chair, I begged God to let me have another chance with her, to let me see her again, but I didn’t.  I missed the opportunity to speak life giving, life changing words in her life.  I missed the chance to mentor her in that moment.

Imagine that I am looking at you face to face, deep into your eyes right now as I state this:  If you would know what to say in that situation, this mentoring workshop is for you.  We need your wisdom.  But if you’re more like I was, uncertain what to say when caught off guard, not sure how to share your faith with a woman in a check-out line, on a playground bench, or at school function, then this mentoring workshop is for also you.  We’ll discuss “mentoring in the moment” like my opportunity at the dentist and “mentoring for the long haul” which is a long term commitment to partner with one woman.  It’s so much more than a formal program.  Come and learn about mentoring in this four session workshop.  Monday nights, January 23rd through February 6th at 6:30PM and Saturday morning, February 11th from 9:00-Noon.  Childcare is provided.

Please purchase the book “Transforming Together: Authentic Spiritual Mentoring” by Ele Parrott for this class.

We will also be looking at the workbook entitled “Influence:  Living and Sharing a Life of Wisdom” by Pam Gillaspie and Jan Silvious available at  http://store.precept.org/p-1529-influence-brliving-and-sharing-a-life-of-wisdom.aspx  (but it isn’t required for this class, but may be a good resource for you).  If you cannot attend our workshop on mentoring, Precept Ministries is offering an online, self-paced class on mentoring based on this workbook by signing up at   http://deepandwide.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c31834e7c1fe9e4a202328dde&id=0b29c29fe6

God Bless, ~Shelly

Look at this video of chinese plate spinners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4-SHBgCQ2U&feature=related

I think so often women’s ministry wrongly comes down to spinning plates and teaching other women to do the same.  Let me explain.

Think performance.  Think about all of the things we do as women to impress others.  Even beyond that, not even considering what the others are thinking, think about the things we do to impress ourselves, to make us feel like we’re good enough, or doing enough, to define ourselves as a success. 

In my job, as Director of Women’s Ministries, I could become a professional plate spinner.  I could be the woman that has it all together, spinning the roles of wife, mom, Pastor, friend, daughter, etc. effortlessly.  I could make it look easy, like I have found the secret to life.  I could paint this dream picture where all is beautiful, and lovely, and peaceful.  I could become the woman who pretends to have it all together.  More than that, I could be the one telling other women to follow me in this pretense.  To measure our walk with God by the way we spin plates.  We could become this circus act and I could become the choreographer teaching moms to “get it all together” so it looks good on the outside.

I am here today to shout–FORGET ABOUT THE OUTSIDE!!  Drop a couple of plates.  Nap when the baby naps, let the dishes sit while you play a game with your kids, let your husband iron his own shirt, and don’t care if a spontaneous guest sees a bit of your mess.  I truly do want it all together.  I want every little thing in it’s place and every little detail covered.  I want the perfect picture, not to impress you or other people, but to impress me to meet my own standards and to impress God, to show Him I’m working hard enough. But in His beauty and His grace, He says, “You need your failures and your weaknesses.  Embrace them, because I love you that way.”  It doesn’t impress Him when I spin plates, or when I teach a group of women to perform.  I think He’s more impressed when we let others into the ugly places, let them see the ugly cry of our hearts, and to care through the ugliness of life~to truly love.

I don’t ever want to encourage a woman to spin a plate or to go through life feeling like they can’t keep up with all of the demands.  I want us to lay our everything before our great Big, God and say, “Use me for Your glory!”   We have to cover the details, we have to maintain our many roles in life, but it’s so much more than spinning plates.  It’s a beautiful, messy journey of faith.  I am so blessed.

Our Heavenly Father first revealed himself in this world as the Creator.  He is the one who created the heavens and the earth and He delighted in His creations.  We were created in the image of God.  In His likeness, with intricacies and attributes that reflect the heart of Who He Is.  As we tune into God and who He designed us to be, He unlocks and instills gifts and passions within us to be used for His glory. 

Consider this verse:   Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4.   I used to think that as we delighted in God and grew closer to Him, He was pleased to hand over to us whatsoever we requested, whatever it was that our little hearts desired.   This “Santa Claus” in the sky, genie in a bottle, view of God was distorted.  He does delight to give us good things and the Word teaches us that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17), but it’s not that our wish is His command.  It’s better than that.

As we delight in God, and grow closer to Him through the study of His word, worship, prayer, obedience, and service, we grow to know Him better.  As we know Him better, we learn His character.  We cannot fully grasp the depth of who He is, or how intense each of His character traits are represented as the essence of who He is, but we can stand in awe of each little element of God we do get a glimpse of. 

In Ephesians 3, Paul prays, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

I want to take four main points from this passage today.

1. God’s love for us is one of the good and perfect gifts that comes from above.  It is for everyone.
2. This love surpasses knowledge, but the understanding of that love is what is developed in us as we draw closer to Him.  As we grow in a love for God, for His Word, and His people, we grow in an understanding of how much He loves us.  As we gain insight of that love more and more, as we see how immeasurable that love is, we gain a revelation of Who God is.  When we realize on a new and deeper level, “He loves me,” and then the next day, or month, or year, we understand it even more,  our hearts melt and rest in that love with peace, and beauty, and awe.  We are confident in who we are and who God created us to be.
3. We can be filled with the measure of all fullness of God.  I don’t know what that means.  I do not know how to measure the fullness of God with human measurements.  I do not know what portion of Him we get to be filled with, but what I know is that the more and more I understand that God loves me, the more and more I want to be like Him.  Not in a prideful, powerful, lightning bolt at my command type of feeling, but the deepest heart desire to please Him.  Beyond just pleasing Him, I want to be Him here and now to the people around  me.  I want to be His hands comforting and strengthening those that need to feel His touch, I want to be His voice speaking His words to those that need to hear Him, I want to be His provision to those that need what He wants to give them, I want to be His mercy, His wisdom, His beauty.  My heart’s desire is no longer wrapped up in pleasing me, but in being His hands and feet, His servant, in all that I am.
4. His power within us can do more than we ask or imagine.  His power is at work within us. Think about this, “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you”  Romans 8:11.  The power that spoke to a dead and buried Jesus Christ and said, ”Arise,” is within us.  The same power that spoke “Let there be light” to a dark and empty space is at work within us.  We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).  “All things.”  “Immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.”  “Living in you.”  “According to His power at work within us.”  Understand, His power is at work within you helping you, beyond helping you, it’s empowering you, equipping you, enabling you, to be everything that God needs you to be.  Even more than that, it is placing within you longings. 

When you know God loves you, you know who God created you to be, and you know His power is at work within you, you begin to find within yourself longings, desires of your heart, that line up with God’s Word, that stir within you.  They call out to you.  They pull you or push you to do the things you only once dreamed of doing.  You take the risk, step out in faith, and move.  Some people feel called to go on that mission trip to Africa, go into full-time ministry, to sell all they have and give to the poor, to write that book, or more.  We fear it, all of the “Big Faith” stuff, that we equate with fully surrendering to the calling and the power of God in your life.  But let me stop you right here and explain what I want you to know more than anything from this blog today.  Think of it this way, God created North America.  He created it a beautiful continent with mountains and valleys, rivers and lakes, forests and deserts, plains and prairies.  God created the birds, fish, and other animals, and provided them with the food they needed to sustain their lives.  God created the big–the oceans and the mountains, and God created the small–the ants, blades of grass, and specks of sand.  He fashioned into place every detail, every little thing and every big thing to make this land on which we live.  What if it is the same with our longings?

What if that longing in your heart to dance is just as “Big Faith” importance as the missionary in Africa?  What if your desire to homeschool your children in actually God’s desire for them?  What if your heart’s desire to sing is not about leading worship on a big stage, but more about giving Him praise on a day-to-day basis?  What if God calls you be to be a nurse, or a teacher, a banker, or a lawyer, a farmer, a mother, or a store clerk?  Are those lesser callings than Pastor or missionary?  What if the longing isn’t big, like a career or a ministry?  What if it’s little, like “I want to sit with my mom and drink a cup of coffee” or “I want to spend an afternoon at the museum with my son” or “I want to plant a garden”?  My statement today is if you know God loves you, if you rest in the confidence that you want to please Him because He loves you, if you know you were created for a purpose, if you know God’s power is at work within you, listen to that longing.  Find that longing within you and let it stir.  Let it grow, and pull, and call, and push you.  Let it move you.  Whether it is little or it is big in our wrongful measurement of “faith stuff”, accept it.  Love it.  Go for it.

My heart’s desire right now is to create beauty everyday.  I don’t know what that will be, but it lines up with who God is, He is Creator, He creates beauty, and I believe He has placed this longing in my heart.  I’m going to go forward with it believing I am doing His will.  He will empower me to do more than I can ask or imagine as He moves in my life.   I am excited to see where God takes me.  I expect this to be a year of crafting, and sewing, cleaning and writing, encouraging and studying, playing and planting ~ a year of beauty and smiles, of flowers and family, photography and decorating, fashion and fun. Creating something of beauty everyday is my personal goal for 2012.  May God bless it and use it for His glory.

Find your inner longing.  Believe it is there for a purpose.  It may not be big in definition of what we think God wants His followers to do, but I’m telling you today, be faithful in what you define as little things because it may be that still small longing will lead to something more than you can ask or imagine.   God bless you.  Find your longing and do something with it!  Now, go!!  Love ya!

Beauty.

There was a time in my life when I was considered beautiful…hush now, all who might say I still am, not the point…beauty became a paradox in my life.  Beauty became a blessing and a curse.   Beauty in the world’s definition is powerful, vain, sexual, and dangerous.  But true beauty, God’s beauty, is gentle, humble, spiritual, and nurturing.   I do believe that I have known both.  I’ve been beautiful and I am beautiful.  I’ve used my beauty and been used for my beauty.  There came a point in my life when I wanted nothing to do with it, wanted to hide it and push it aside so no one would know, that somewhere deep inside, I was created an image of beauty.  Because beauty was ugly.

Vanity and Conceit.

You may, or may not, be able to read into these words that I’ve struggled with vanity, to the point that I’d be ashamed to share how conceited I had become at points in my life.  Stupid sinful pride, wrapped up in self-centeredness and judgementalism.  I was conceited to the core and fell for the line that I was something special…something more beautiful than “her”…I still fall for it, but I fight it.   I rebuke it and repent.  “I’m sorry, forgive me.” I lay down my beauty crown and beg God to make me His…holy His…and wholey His.  And He says, “My beautiful one, I love you, rest in who I created you to be.”

And before my rebuke, or resistance, or rebellion is on my lips to correct Him, He hushes me and says, “You are beautiful and I delight in you.”  I want to show Him my dark circles, stretch marks, and scars, I want to show Him the dark recesses of my heart that still reflect my sin  of vanity…who am I to correct God…yes, I know, more vanity and pride…but He wants to show me beauty all  around me. 

As I rest and relax as His love and mercy washes over me, images of beauty flash before me…flowers, blooming through the spring time snow;  newborns, resting at their mother’s breast; eaglets, high above the hustle and bustle of this life we live.  There is beauty all around us.  May we take the time to catch glimpses of His glory in the beauty of His creation.

Beauty.  Beautiful. 

I’m taken to His Word, drawn to the word beautiful.  Beauty is important to God.  Important enough to mention a woman’s physical beauty with her name throughout the Old Testament.  Consider these examples:

When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. Genesis 12:14

Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.  The woman was very beautiful Genesis 24:15-16

Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.  Genesis 29:17

His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman  1 Samuel 25:3

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, ³ and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba  2 Samuel 11: 2-3

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom  2 Samuel 13:1

Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman.  2 Samuel 14:27

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  1 Kings 1:3

This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.  Esther 2:7

Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.  Job 42:15

Ponder their stories.  But know this, Jesus never mentioned a woman for her physical beauty. 

He criticized men who were beautiful on the outside, yet unclean in their hearts  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”  Matthew 23:27

and praised the actions of a woman as a beautiful thing, but did not call her beautiful. 

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. ⁹“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”  ¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.  Matthew 26:8-10

Scripture teaches us much more about beauty:

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  Romans 10:15

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Proverbs 31:30

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  1 Peter 3:3-4

and much more.  But consider this:

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.  Psalm 45:11

What is my point?  What do I wish for you to learn from this blog?  What do I desire to teach my daughters about beauty?  Ah…that, my dear, is for another day’s blog because this one has gotten too long.  For now, ponder beauty.  Watch for it.  Rest in it.  Don’t relinquish it.  Let the King be enthralled in your beauty!  For He is the very one who created you beautiful.

The ladies of New Life Bible Church, Winnebago, IL, are hosting an upcoming Women’s Conference entitled “Simplify the Season, Celebrate the Savior” at New Life on November 20th.  At that conference, we will be joining with women from our church and the local communities to learn how to simplify our lives for a more joyous and peaceful Christmas season.

We want to share recipes, gift ideas, tips, and traditions that will benefit the women at the conference.  We can use your help.

If you have a favorite recipe, homemade gift idea, or crafty decorating idea, would you share it with our women?  It’s fun and easy!!  You can even do some online research in any of the categories (see below) and add neat things you find!

1.  Go online to www.recipething.com

2.  Hit the LOG IN button  then use “New Life Bible Church Women” for your login name.  The password is “Christmas”

3.  The screen will show “Shelly’s Recipe Box” look for the “add a new recipe” link and click it.  Then, type your recipe or craft instructions into the form.

Under “Category” — please use one of these titles

Appetizers           Bread         Christmas Cookies       Christmas Candy   Holiday Pies       Main Dishes        Desserts     Fruits/Vegetables         Homemade Gifts          Crafts         Salads                     Christmas Brunch         Just for Kids      Handmade Decorations

Thank you so much!! Questions or to register for the conference: 

Call Shelly (815)335-1405 or email at shelly@winnewlife.com

I think people get that way with church sometimes, too.   So many times we see people who attend church as enthusiastically as a faithful football fan.   They’re here every time the door is open and often serve behind the scenes without much recognition.  Sadly, there are times when it’s the very people who are most committed to serving the church who reach that point of burn out.  They become like me with football, preferring to nap rather than joining the family one more time in a church related activity.

I believe there are many preventative measures that can be taken to prevent burn-out in my own life.  First and foremost, is to focus on Jesus.  Work as one working for God, not man, and commit to serving as Christ served.   The second step is love.  Lay down judgments, expectations, and conditions, and fully love the people we are serving.  This can only be done with the love of God flowing through us.  The third part of the equation is appreciation, gratitude, and praise.  Giving praise to God, we, as Christians, should show appreciation and thankfulness to those who work hard among us in the church, our communities, and our schools.

You may know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month across our nation.  Usually New Life Bible Church showers our pastors with gifts, pies (pecan is our favorite….LOL!), and cards expressing their love and gratitude.  You have no idea how much that builds us up and encourages us in our ministry.  We thank everyone who participates in Pastor Appreciation Month, but in 2010, we ask for something different.  This year, we ask for everyone who considers New Life as their home church, anyone who is looking for a church home, and those who have been blessed by the ministry of New Life to join us at our Homecoming Service, on October 31.   We will celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of New Life Bible Church showing appreciation to our Father, our pastors, and to everyone who serves our body of Christ.  

Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show your appreciation for those leaders who work among you and instruct you. 13 We ask you to love them and think very highly of them because of the work they are doing. Live in peace with each other.             1 Thess 5:12-13 (GW)

Wisdom leads to:

      knowledge & understanding; deliverance; purity; life; goodness/righteousness;  dwelling place; favor & high esteem w/God and man; direction; health/strength; provision; happiness; pleasant peace; blessing; and eternal glory.

  What else can you find from the Proverbs that are a direct result of WISDOM??

Need wisdom?  Ask for it.  James 1:5   While you are at it, pray for WISDOM for your family, your pastors, your church family, your community leaders, and anyone else you can think of.    Seek wisdom!!  Great are the rewards.  Lord God, please give us wisdom!!

It was such an encouragement to me to hear that I had made a difference in their lives–so much that they still talked of me four years later!

Today I am reading from Craig Jutila’s  book The Growing Leader:  Healthy Essentials for Children’s Ministry.    The intro to Chapter 2 made me stop in my tracks and blog.  (it’s been awhile!)

I was walking around our children’s building just before the 9:45AM service when I noticed several lines of people waiting to get into various classrooms.  What a slow check in, I thought.  I began talking to parents in the first line, apologizing for the wait and asking them to consider attending the 8:00AM service where the attendance is a bit smaller.  Without exception, I was told in no uncertain terms that “my child wants to see Mr. Chuck!”

I went to the next line, where eight kids patiently stood with their parents.  I offered the same option.  Again, without exception, the response from each parent went something like this: “I’d go to another service, but my child won’t let me do it.  She really wants to see Ms. Shelly” (the name is a coincidence–it was not me.)

What’s the appeal?  Why would kids wait in line to see their leaders?…Why?  Because kids don’t come back for what you teach; they come back, long term, for who you are.  And who you are is what teaches.

Please understand, it took us three years to encourage our leaders who serve on the weekends (and who served every other weekend, or once a month, or twice a year…) to serve every  weekend.  Now, we have children lined up to see their favorite teacher.

Craig goes on to talk about how teachers who are commited to every week engage with the kids on an emotional level that opens the doorway to learning Biblical lessons.  I agree!!

If I think back to my childhood, I remember faithful teachers who taught week after week.  I remember teachers that not only taught me until I was promoted out of their class, but stayed with that grade level through my younger siblings.  All four of us can  remember Ms. Rita and her love for us.  I remember nursery workers who let me help in the nursery when I was a teenager and cared for my babies years later and camp counselors who were there when I was a camper and were still there when my kids went to camp.  There’s something solid and stable about that!

We live in a world where a lot of kids are missing stability in their home lives.  So many of them have fathers or “mom’s boyfriends” who have walked out of their lives.  Even siblings are breaking ties and heading out on their own.  Even the strongest, most stable families can benefit from one more person who loves and supports them on a long term basis.

I want to encourage each of my children’s workers in any of our Kidzone classes to consider taking your commitment a step deeper.  What if kids were lining up to join your class?  What if moms on the playground told other moms about how great you are?  What if twenty years from now grown students still remember your name?  Wouldn’t that feel great?  It would, but it’s not the reason to commit to these kids.   We commit to these kids because God loves them and He desires that they feel that love through a church who loves them and teaches them about Him, His Son, and His Word.  Will you be that person?  Will you be the vessel of His love?  It’s such a high calling!!  The reward is out of this world!!  Are you willing?

At Christmastime, we were faced with the decision of how to distribute the money.  This is not an easy job.  We want to be good stewards, we want to bless those that truly need it, and we want don’t want to miss anyone in our congregation who may be in need, but too shy or ashamed to admit it.  We prayed and prepared to distribute the money.

During this time, we received phone calls from individuals requesting money.  One of them was quite determined and called several times.  She wasn’t specific about her need, but just wanted help however we could.  We, as the Pastoral staff at New Life, prayed about how to help her and discussed it among ourselves.  With this one individual, we could not come to an agreement.  One pastor said “This”, another said “that”, and I was confused about what to do for her.  As the days before Christmas ticked away, we felt pressured to get her something, so we came to a conclusion we all agreed was best and left it in God’s hands. 

Today, she called again, spoke to our Sr. Pastor and wanted more help.   When I first heard her name, I wasn’t sure it was the same woman…same first name, different last name.  I searched our records and found that the phone number was the same.  On a whim, or divine inspiration, I ran this new name through our county’s database of court records.  This woman’s name came up with 2 1/2 pages of records, including a crime of forced entry/robbery against a very respected family in our community and several other similar crimes.  I was shocked!   I should have looked under the other name, but I’d seen enough. 

I called her back, wanting to confront her, nervously unsure about what to say.  I asked her about the two last names and she claimed her last name was the first name given, not the second.  I simply told her that we had helped her at Christmas and couldn’t help her further.  She was a bit disappointed, and we ended the brief phone call.

I’ve thought about it off and on today and wondered, “What would Jesus have done?”  I’ve also wondered if we handled this wrong.  I don’t know the anwer.  I am saddened to feel like we have to question the heart of the people we help and I know that even people with the worst of criminal records can be transformed by the love and touch of Jesus Christ.  I hope she appreciates the help we gave her in the name of Jesus and that He works in her heart and changes her life.  I pray she reaches out to us again, not for silver or gold, but for a treasure that is worth more than any other in this life, eternal life through the forgiveness of sins in the name of JESUS.

Pray for her…whatever her name is, He knows the truth!!