Obedient to her calling

Obedient to her calling, Andrea Tyson, a single, 20-something women’s ministries director at New Hope Church (New Hope, MN) invested in and discipled Beth—never knowing it would lead to becoming a "grandmother" of sorts.

As Andrea and Beth were spending time with each other, Beth met Helen at the Sunday prayer group. Helen was attending the Sunday prayer group at New Hope Church in search of a deeper prayer life. It was there, Beth and Helen became friends…meeting regularly to share life, talk and pray together.

As Andrea shares, “It was fun for me to be in the background praying for and coaching Beth to be a disciplemaker with Helen. After a couple months I said, ‘Beth, Helen knows you love her and care about her; but, at some point in the conversation, she needs to be asked, ‘Does she want to put her faith in Christ and be His disciple?’”

Beth followed Andrea’s advice asking Helen that important question. What was Helen’s answer? A resounding, “Yes!" Beth experienced the joy of leading Helen to Christ.

And that’s how Andrea, a 20-something became a “spiritual grandma.”

For Helen, I have been praying In confidence, I will say to this mountain of cancer in Helen’s body to be taken up and cast into the sea. I will not doubt but believe that what the Lord has said, He will do. Knowing that as I have asked in prayer, believing I shall receive it (Mark 11:23). 

My Sister in Christ, a dear friend, and a bit of a daughter ... Andrea

She and I

She is quiet and thoughtful

I am more outspoken, sometimes without thinking

She loves well and so do I

She is compassionate and caring always asking tough questions

I too am compassionate and caring but I don't always go deep enough to ask the tough questions

          She is slight in frame and light in color of hair

          I am a bit bigger and the color Grey shows I am older

She is a bit on the unorganized side but always sees the big picture

I am sometimes obsessed with being organized and

I love to write and know the details


She and I love coffee that does not taste like coffee and we both are fans of carmel although She is a bigger fan than I

We both love to read

          She is content with being single

          I am very content being married

She has a spiritual depth to her learning and is athletic 

I have a love for learning and like long walks and bike rides

loving the practice of gratitude numbers 963 - 970

 

963. The flowers the golfer planted in the backyard; breath-taking

 

 

 

 

 

964. a summer day to hang sheets on the line; finding ourselves

safe and comfortable

 

 

 

965. my favorite book; The Bible, a few other good books, 

a journal, colored pens,

a cup of coffee, and water; thoughtful

 

966. a quote heard today; "Leadership is an action not a position."

 

967. taco salad for dinner

 

968. text messages of encouragement received

 

969. text messages of encouragement sent

 

970. a friend asks for prayer after a recent

diagnosis and surgery for cancer

 

 

Almond Joy Creamer

Wow, Indulging in a bit of Almond Joy creamer (my littlest introduced me to this) this morning with some praying girlfriends from work. It's not on "7" but it tastes so very good and it goes along well with the Word, prayer and fellowship. Remembering it's the practice not the perfection ...

a simple but profound heart of gratitude

Dear Nan and Dianne,

Thank you for speaking the truth into my life today especially in regards to the due process position, kindness, and bullying. I have a lot to learn and, Nan, as you so appropriately stated many more years in which to learn. :-)

You both have empowered me for good and right thinking. As I walk by faith I am excited and looking forward to the changes and opportunities the 2013-2014 school year will bring!

With a grateful heart, B.

My Friend, My Sister(s) in Christ

 

 

 

Holly fixing her hair before having her picture taken

 

I could not sleep tonight so I am up and writing about the reason I could not sleep. You see, tonight was the night I presented the devotions at my friend's bridal shower. Since I wrote a post last week about my birth sister I thought I would follow it up with a post about my sister in Christ, good friend, funnest person on this earth, Holly. She will be getting married in less than and month and I am very happy for her but ... the reason I can't sleep is 'cause even though I am happy for her I am sad because there will be a distance between Holly and I after she gets married 'cause she's moving to Nebraska, to be a farmers wife. It will be a great loss and since I am prone to have "attachment disorder" :-) it will be extremely hard to have this good friend move away from Minnesota. I see Holly most every week and we, Holly, my other sisters in Christ Andrea, and Lisa have this yearly tradition of enjoying taco salad with homemade salsa (by the golfer) each summer. What I love about our time is we share with one another Bible verses that we can be praying throughout the coming year for each  other. This year Holly has been praying Psalm 91:1 for me, and I have been praying Hebrews 12:5b-7 for her. With Holly I not only receive the gift of an amazing friend but the gift of an amazing praying friend. I love you Holly and I will miss you big time!

 

Below are the words that I shared with Holly this evening:

It is a delight to be here this evening to celebrate and honor you, Holly as you get married to Chris in June.

When I thought about what I would share tonight I felt sad … ‘cause I thought about

how much I would miss our summer time taco salad’s;

how I would miss “hearing” our love language  of “sarcasm” with one another

and how I would miss our hug’s and check-in’s at the front desk

But then I thought about how happy I am for you Holly. How happy I am that you met Chris, that you love one another well and that you plan to be a farmer’s wife for the rest of your life ….

A farmer’s wife must be strong … not just strong enough to pail hay, drive the John Deer tractor, or bring in the crops but …

1. strong in who you are

2. strong in your ability to study the Bible and pass it on to others

3. strong in your prayer life

4. strong in your relationships

5. strong in your love for others

6. strong in your joy

1. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in Who They Are
We've all heard those age-old questions, like, "Who am I?" "Where did I come from?" "Where am I going?" Isn’t it great Holly that as a Christian woman you know who you are? I love that you know you are a child of the King. You know who your creator is. And it is my hope that knowing who you are in Christ will give you satisfaction and strength.

In the scriptures in Ephesians 1:4-6 The Lord says:
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

2. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in Bible study, Bible knowledge, and passing that knowledge on to others
Staying in the Word daily builds up our bodies. It's like those exercises that you have to do so many repetitions every day in order for it to do any good. We've just got to keep reading, studying, and memorizing God's Word to keep fit and strong. When questions and things come up, we need to know what the Bible says about it. If we're grounded in God's Word, we are better able to be strong and resist temptations too. We need to have the answers and Bible knowledge right there to grab and use as things come at us. In Psalm 119:11 the Lord says: I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. And in 2 Timothy 2:1-6 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.  An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.  Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Because I would love to encourage you to be strong Christian woman of the word I have this gift for you (Give the gift of the Bible Study)

3. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their prayer Life.
Making prayer a vital part of our lives gives us such strength. It uplifts and strengthens us as we go on our way. Prayer is such a powerful thing. We have loved one another well by praying for one another. Thank you Holly, for praying for me and it has been an honor to pray for you! I believe that to be a praying wife is the most powerful way you can encourage your husband Chris.

In Psalm 55:17 the Lord says Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
And in 1 Thessalonians 7:17 He says that we are to Pray without ceasing.  

Because I would love to encourage you to be a praying wife I have this gift for you (Give the gift of The Power of the Praying Wife and for Chris The Power of the Praying Husband)

 

4. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their relationship with their husband.
We are gathered here tonight to honor you Holly and your marriage to Chris. The strong Christian women I've known over the years have all had a strong and good relationship with their husbands. I think that's so important. When you marry Chris, he will become your husband and he will be the second most important person in your life. How you interact with him is going to affect how strong you are. Always remember to be building him up and you will be strong.

In Proverbs 31:28 the Lord says: Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. 

And in Ephesians 5:22-24: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.   

Because I would love to encourage you to be strong in your relationship with Chris I want to give you this calendar. On it is marked every 15th of the month because you will be married on the 15^th of June. I believe that if you intentionally set aside that day each month to date one another for the rest of your lives that you will remain in love with one another just as if it were the very first day you were married. (Give the gift of the calendar)

 

5. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their love for others.  There's nothing like concentrating on others to give us a boost. They say having a genuine love for others is like drinking one of those sports drinks. It will restore all those minerals you've been missing! Think about how love was a big part of Christ's life. It definitely should be a big part of yours Holly. I am confident it will be and as you continue to care, reach out, encourage, and pray for others you will be strong.
John 13: 34-35 states:  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
Because I would love to encourage you to be a strong in your love for others I want to give you this package of note cards so you may encourage others as you have encouraged me. (Give the gift of note cards)

Finally,

6. A Christian Woman Should Be Strong in their joy.
Holly, maybe at some point you have memorized the last part of Nehemiah 8:10, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

It's such a simple phrase but so powerful. We can tap into His strength daily by having His joy.  We don't need the latest outfits, a membership to the gym, a really nice home, a new John Deer tractor or financial security. We just need to find the joy of the Lord in our lives and we'll find our strength.

Let’s Pray ….

 

 

 

 

 



Sleep Number Bed ....

It would appear that we are sleeping but not :-p ....

Although we did enjoy checking out the sleep number bed as our good friends Ken and Ginny looked on and took this picture.

It was "red shirt Friday" and most Friday's Terry and I remember to wear our red shirts in honor of our troops! It was also a snow day which was a pleasant surprise! I stayed in my pj's most of the morning and then in the early afternoon about 4:30 we met the McMillan's at Milton's a quaint little restaurant in Crystal for some dinner before heading down to the Minneapolis Convention Center to check out the Home Improvement Show. We walked around and literally laid down as we checked out all the show had to offer. Ginny and I of course found much to laugh about and we convinced the men to buy us some home made salsa and jam and wait for us while we both got our wedding rings cleaned. After leaving the show we traveled back to Milton's to order the Banana Foster (to die for) dessert. We ordered it to go and then went back to Ken and Ginny's and enjoyed the vanilla bean ice cream with fried bananas topped with an amazing Carmel sauce. Overall a won.der.ful evening of fun with friends!

4 weeks out

Hard to believe that I am 4 weeks post-op .... I am feeling so much stronger and leaning so much more into His arms. There are a lot of things happening in my life, the life of my children and in my church family that have given me cause to pause and pray often. Something I read by Paul Tripp this week impacted me.

Prayer finds its hope not in the qualifications of the one praying, but in the character and plan of the God who is hearing.
 

It may be hard for me, but I choose to resist my hard things as intruders and to welcome them as friends. I trust that my life may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. 

May the peace of Christ dwell in you richly today! Remaining In His Arms. B.

continuing with an attitude or gratitude

Linking up here tonight:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/
Joy Dare Ideas August

3 gifts White

892. my ministry partner’s new wife’s wedding dress

893. the whiteness of the kitchen floor after a good scrubbing

894. the blank piece of paper with no writing on the page

 3 gifts eaten

895. Pirate’s Booty from my friend Kathy

896. our first corn on the cob of the season

897. gf French toast dish with brown sugar and yummy pecans

3 gifts sitting

898. the reading of my Bible while sipping my morning coffee

899. right not sitting in my living room sharing life with my husband, daughter and granddaughter

900. sitting on the swing and listening to the birds

A gift outside, inside, upside down

901. the beauty of the Crow river outside

902. the inside of a friends praying heart

903. my son-in-law holding his son laughing upside down

Story

Linking up here today:

The Writing Prompt: Story

Start

Do I have a story to tell? I do and so do you. We all have a story to tell. Sometimes I do not think my stories are worth telling but I still tell them to anyone who may listen. I have family and friends who like to tell stories, some are short and to the point but others are longer and I get inpatient and want to say to the storyteller, "just get to the point"! As for me, I love to think that some day my children and grandchildren may want to know my stories ... hence one reason for writing them down.

Another reason in writing down my stories now, is that the writing of my stories, online, handwritten, or in letters, is for the purpose of remembering ... remembering the faithfulness of my Father who is writing my story. I do not know the ending of my story but am confident in the One who is in charge of the ending.

I love a good story but I do find that the most enjoyable stories for me are the true stories. I love to write them, tell them and most often hear them being told.

End

You are a gift!

5 minutes giving it all I got with not edits ...

Start

It was a gift to spend time with my good friend Ginny yesterday. We walked, getting the exercise I need and we talked, about the things that matter most to us. We chatted about Real Women, we went on to talk about excess, and rich in generosity. I know we could talk for hours. We laughed and we shared lunch together. It is a gift to spend time with her and I love that we find ourselves talking about the gifts we have received from the Lord.

It seems there is nothing quite like the gift of a girlfriend who shares her faith in conversation.

It's a GIFT to spend time, recalling the GIFTS from His hand, through the GIFT of conversation with the GIFT of my good friend Ginny. I love you my friend way more!

End


Joining Lisa Jo here:




 

grief and loss

I received an e-mail message from a dear friend and partner in the ministry of prayer this week that he lost his wife to a short battle with cancer. Loss can be so hard on me personally. For I have found that the bigger the family and the bigger the network of friends one has the bigger and harder the loss.

Because this friend is one who I love dearly in the Lord and was one of the first persons I knew to be a pray-er and taught me to pray the connection spiritually is so strong even though we have a distance between physical location. I so would love to be with Steve during this time and because I am unable to I wrote this note on the Caringbridge site.

Please if you are reading my blog today would you agree in prayer for my dear friend and co-labor in Christ Steve. Could I also ask that if you have read and prayed that you would encourage my heart by leaving a comment below. This is a hard time for all of us who have been touched by Steve and Marilou.


Oh Steve,

How very sorry I am to hear of the loss of your love, your best friend, your wife and my dear friend and fellow pray-er. My mind is in shock and my heart is heavy for you, me and others left behind. I rejoice in the hope of heaven and a time when we will be reunited with those we love, but for now I am sad, so sad for your loss. May memories of Maryilou bring you and your family comfort during this time of loss. Words cannot express how my heart hurts and how I want to be by your side, encouraging, supporting and hugging you during this time, yet distance makes that impossible. Please my friend, the one who first taught me to pray, may you know that now, more than ever, I uphold you in prayer knowing full well that "Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted."

May we all remain In His Arms, B

A Girfriend

I found these words on a small gift I gave a friend today .... I wanted to savor them, remember them, and pass them on to others, so I am posting them here in honor of one particular girlfriend. You may have a girlfriend that needs to hear these words today so if you do, please forward this on but please know that the words are copyrighted with Blue Mountain Arts and were written by Vickie Worsham

"A girlfriend is a sister you choose
A girlfriend is the one person on this earth you feel whole with.
She knows where you're coming from and everything you're dreaming about.
she is the one you tell anything to, ask anything of, and do anything for.
Just spending a moment with her chases your cares away and puts a smile on you face.
She understand what you hope for, what you believe in, and what you are committed to.
A girlfriend is a sister you choose".

Investing in Women who will Invest in Women

I went on a bike ride tonight ...


I could not stop thinking about our last meeting tomorrow night. How even though it's our last meeting it could be just the beginning for our guests.

Maybe they have read the word but have never studied the word. Maybe they have studied the word but have never applied it to their daily life. Maybe they have no real deep friendships ... women who will pray for them, cry with them, and invest in them.

Real Women has changed my life and my hope is that it has changed yours too and as Andrea has said that we will be prepared to thank and praise God for the amazing things He has done in us this year.

I have a dream that one day every woman at NHC will be engaged in the study of the word through EX 2:2, Generations Bible Study, Precepts or Real Women. What are you dreaming?

Sometimes I wish I could just articulate my heart for women who are younger, women who are older, and women who come from different backgrounds, cultures and upbringings. Women who are married, single, widowed and divorced. I have a deep desire to make disciples of women who in turn will make disciples .... And I can't think of a better place to do this than Real Women.

I have so loved this year knowing that I am "doing life" with Judy, who mentored me so many years ago before WBS. And with Kathy, a dear sister who I have prayed with long before Real Women. And with Karen who graduated with me and helped me through my study in EX2:2. And with Sally, a new person to NHC and a new friend and ministry partner.

Thank you ladies for investing in women. It is my hope and prayer that each of you will continue the path of Real Women that you have started or continued this year. You are loved!

In His Arms,

Beth

"I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." C.H. Spurgeon

If you are reading this post as a follower or guest and want to know more about Real Women leave a comment with your e-mail address and i will get back to you.

day 27

Thirty-One Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew (31 Days Series)

I taking the power from this book today ... day 27

Also I am thinking about a simple gift given from Susan this Easter. It was a package of note cards. A visual reminder of our friendship and how she encourages me. Yesterday at work her words were "we make a great team."

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Gratitude Just Makes Sense

Gratitude just makes sense as there is so much just from this past weekend to be thankful for so .... I contine to count to 1000 gifts as I say thanks ...

256. for a husband who prepares the meal that I take on my scrap booking weekend
257. for a daughter willing to drive 'cause I just would rather ride
258. for a warm welcome from Cheryl, who has the gift of hospitality
259. for women who like to get away to get things done
260. for a completed scrapbook of my granddaughter Prudence
261. for an almost completed scrapbook of my granddaughter Annika (ran out of pages)
262. for an abundance of food during the weekend
263. for a drive back to "home sweet home"
264. for the laundry pile that is getting done
265. for an invite to family friends to watch the super bowl
266. for the friends to be totally OK with me coming for food and a short visit only to return home to finish the laundry
267. for good books to read in the bathtub
268. for EBT (early bed time)
269. for a great God who orders my steps, knows me by name and accepts me for who I am
270. for the opportunity to have conversations with that same great God before falling asleep

A Year in Review

I was totally inspired after I read Catherine's and Lisa's blogs to post a year in review and I loved Lisa's approach by going from December-all the way back to January. It seems to me that my mind will remember the most recent joys and concerns of 2010 first so .... with that said here goes ....
December
Joy; A surprise visit from our TX kids and grand kids for Christmas which meant that we were all together this Christmas, sons, son-in-laws, daughters, daughter-in-law, grandson and granddaughters ... Yea! Also a joy was a time of welcoming women and one special man into our home as Kelley and I hosted our annual "Blessings" Open House.

Concern; The loss of one of our 3-grade students totally unexpected.
November
Joy; A missions trip to Liberia but not before spending time with MN family cutting down our Christmas Tree ... I love this tradition.

Concern; The loss of my nephew of just 33 years of age also totally unexpected.
October
Joy; Women of Faith and a restful time at the Prestigious Plymouth Pederson B&B. It is always so fun to entertain in our townhome. This year was a special time of B&B as I was able to host some new friends and one old "best" friend, Andrea. We talked, we laughed and we talked some more.

Concern; One of my good friends was told she had cancer and another good friend's husband of many years left here.
September
Joy; School begins and I am ready for routine. I was asked to serve with a great team of 1st grade teachers along with my regular assignment in the EBD classroom.

Concern; I just was not sure what I would do with all my free time now that I had finished school. It seems that this did not turn out to be much of a concern.
August
Joy; The most amazing and fun Anniversary with my sweet husband of 37 years as we road-tripped to the west coast stopping along the way at the Black Hills, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, the Grand Canyon etc ... fun, fun, fun!

Concern; none really
July
Joy and Concern Can't really remember anything
June
Joy; Planning to take my grand kids overnight each Wednesday night for the summer and then go garage sailing with Kelley. (well it wasn't exactly the whole summer much to our dismay!)

Concern; The summer would go much too fast and it did!
May
Joy; Graduation after 5 years of college at Crown College. And the most thoughtful and well-planned graduation open house hosted by all of my kids at my daughter, Lisa's house. Thankful for the accomplishment and even more thankful for the love of my family and that they celebrated me!

Concern; Would I really complete my course work and graduate?
April
Joy; Traveling to TX for the first time by myself to spend time with Jake, Carrie and the Kids having all of them to myself. Don't get me wrong I do like to share but there is just something sweet about having alone time with my kids and grand kids.

Concern; Would I experience complete recovery from a fall I had while restraining a student. (mostly recovered)
March
Joy; An art course I took to fulfil some credits and I fell in love with the professor, the class and the process of art.

Concern; Would I complete my course work and graduate?
Febuary
Joy; Reading and writing and being encouraged to read and write by my daughter Lisa1

Concern; Will the winter ever end?
January
Joy; Being a part of the first EX 2:2 class at my church. I learned so much and read so many good books which I am excited to use as I disciple others in the coming year.

Concern; Would I blog my intentions and even more important would I even be able to live out my intentions?

Don't go to the streets to take Yoga go to Sigh Yoga for IntenSati

Intention .... I will write today .... I will read today .... to become a better writer I must become a better reader ....

Monday, June 21, 2010
morning pages


Ok so you may wonder what it is

I did too

Now I know

Cause I've done it

If you're wondering

You can too



IntenSati
A practice for your body, heart and mind. “Inten” derives from “intention”, and “Sati” is a Pali word which means mindfulness. IntenSati is an exhilarating workout that builds physical, mental, and spiritual muscle. Courage, confidence, willpower, enthusiasm, self-respect, and a strong, healthy body are all results of this powerful practice. And YES – it is also tremendously fun! IntenSati is about bettering both the quality of your inner dialogue and of your physical training. Calling up your power of concentration will improve your health, strength, weight, and most importantly: YOUR LIFE. It is absolute! IntenSati combines high-energy, total-body training with powerful, positive statements that you either think or speak. The goal of this practice is to enable a seamless and total integration of body and mind, allowing you to be and experience all you deeply want. You will learn to tap into the power of the present moment in order to embody –rather than just think or talk about – your BOLDEST, MOST EMPOWERED, BEST SELF. A better way of life. IntenSati will improve how you think and speak about yourself right NOW, a powerful change will follow. IntenSati moves are simple. They are a combination of exercises from aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, and dance. IntenSati is the practice of remembering that if you want to live a life you love in a body you love, you must start loving it now!


Join us at Sigh yoga
www.sighyoga.com

And for more information about intensati check out
Lisa Pederson at http://www.satilife.com

The following from the Monday edition of the star and tribune iteresting concept ... but I perfer Sigh

Yoga takes to the streets

Tom Wallace, Star Tribune

With cars and buses driving nearby, Gorilla Yogis co-founder Nan Gane Arundel needed a power boost to give instructions during the 90-minute class.

Have mat, will travel. Yoga is moving outside the studio and into some very unusual and public spaces, such as parking lots and by lakes, making it more accessible and affordable.

By SHEILA MULROONEY ELDRED, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: June 20, 2010 - 3:54 PM

May Update

I am not really sure what happened to April except that it seemed to fly by and because of this or for whatever other reason I did not follow through with my intention of blogging monthly at the very least and completely blew it! I did not blog in April ... please forgive me ... my faithful readers .... you know who you are ....

So now it is officially the 7th of May as the clock in our living room just struck midnight. I am having a night where I am unable to sleep because of burning pain in my face due to a head injury which occurred on April 15.

I am somewhat excited and yet apprehensive for the next couple of days as I practice for graduation tomorrow night and then graduate on Saturday with a party to follow and then celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday with all 5 kids.

The excitement comes from the completion of an intention for 2010 ... graduate in May with my BS in Educational Studies (a bit of a change due to the fact that I did not do my student teaching and instead took 12 additional credits, hence Educational Studies rather that Elementary ED).

The apprehension comes from the burning sensation in my face and the somewhat unsteadiness in my balance due to my injury.

All in all though it should be a great weekend of celebration ... graduation, mother's day, all my kids, (minus my son-in-law, Jacob who is unable to be with us in MN this time around) grand kids, family and friends .... it will be a weekend to remember ... more to come ....

Real Women and Mentors

About one year ago to the day I was personally invited to a meeting regarding the ministry of Real Women. The Real Women Mentoring Ministry exists to train up women as disciples and leaders in the church who are committed to following Jesus and helping others to do the same. It is an opportunity for women to connect across generational lines to learn from the Word, one another, and good books what it means to be and live as a godly woman for God’s glory and our good.

I found myself attracted to the ministry because I desired to learn from “older” women who had walked in their faith as followers of Christ longer than me. Instead the night of the meeting I was one of the “older” women. I began to sense that I may end up as a mentor in the ministry rather than having a mentor which was my personal desire.

I am happy to say I indeed served as a mentor this past year in Real Women and can I just say that being a part of this ministry transformed my life. I cannot remember, since I became a Christian 32 years ago, a year where I have grown so much in my faith. As I had opportunity to pour into other “younger” women, the “younger” women poured into me through the teaching of the scriptures, praying for and with me, and holding me accountable.

I now know the importance of a ministry that crosses all generations of women who have a desire to disciple and be discipled. If you are seeking a ministry for women where you can be encouraged with real love, have a safe place to share real issues and be lead to grow in the knowledge of real truth … Real Women is for you!

and to those who have mentored me over the years and at present ....

Esther

Eva

Donna

Barbara

Kathy

Joni

Pam

Mary Beth

Andrea

Lisa

Carrie

Kelley

Ashley

Kaye

Kim

I thank my God for you everytime I remember you in my prayers ...

In His Arms, B.