One match, All alone. Can it ignite a fire? No. Even a match needs at least one other object if it is to fulfill it’s function.

One person. All alone. Can they accomplish their dream?

God intends for us to function as a body. To join together and be joined together to bring about His purposes. What an amazing gift God has given us. Let’s examine the blessing of joints!

Those of you who have been reading the past few issues are aware that we have been discussing how to overcome fear. I know that I have been made much more aware of how often fear, intimidation, and dread attempt to limit my life. As I was praying about this issue’s focus, God changed my attention from fear itself, to the fear of the Lord. It was one of those “aha” moments. As the Holy Spirit began to direct me to examine the fear of the Lord, I felt like I had missed the most obvious place to begin! However, we shall make up for that in this issue.

FEAR... DREAD... APPREHENSION…TREPIDATION…INTIMIDATION…Did your body begin to tense as you read these words? Did butterflies begin to swarm in your stomach regions? How about your shoulders? Did they begin to draw up in tension and fear? Mine did—and I was simply typing the words! Reality is there are things we should fear, and things we should not fear. The key is knowing the difference.

Suggestions for following ministry articles that span more than one issue:

The articles posted here are from the original copies of REAL Women, a bi-monthly publication targeting women in ministry. The flow of ministry articles may be best understood by reading the issues in the order they are published.

Volume 9 contains articles spanning the year 2006

It had been a trying and tiring Sunday with the evening service was drawing near. I gathered a few toys together, plus my Bible and notebook, picked up the infant seat containing our two month old daughter, Elizabeth, took the hand of our 23 month old first born and struggled into the sanctuary. Whew—we made it on time.

Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

When my children were younger they used to receive a magazine subscription called “Ranger Rick”. On the back of the magazine there was usually a series of small pictures taken of everyday familiar objects, but the focus so small it was sometimes difficult to be able to tell exactly what the true item was. Sometimes, I have been guilty of making the same mistake in real life.

Have you ever had a great recipe that you made so often that you thought you knew it by memory?  But, then you made it one day and forgot a small, but important ingredient? Have you ever forgotten salt?  What a difference it makes.  Such a small thing, usually a teaspoon or less in most recipes, but it can turn a bland, uninteresting entrée into a wonderful experience.  I believe that God has been showing me an ingredient many of His people have been forgetting to add to their “witnessing recipe”, and that is living a lifestyle of practicing forgiveness.

New, new, new!  We all like new clothes, new furniture, new babies, new friends—how about new thoughts?  New ideas?  New opportunities?  Whoa, some of you say—stop there.  “I don’t like the new that would put me into growing situations. " But God loves to stretch us, grow us and challenge us!  That’s where life is, and God is in to life.
 

Continuing from the last issue, we with a reminder that hospitality must begin in our hearts.  It is the product of God’s love being manifested in our lives.  The nature of God’s love is to share—and that love is poured into our lives and as His vessels, we pour it into others.  One of the tools that is often used to further hospitality is the table.  People eating together set a stage for focused fellowship and the sharing of hearts and ideas.  Jesus took advantage of this setting many times to teach and encourage his disciples.  Many interactions between saint and sinner took pla

Many years ago our family made a journey from Spirit Lake Idaho to Providence RI. Our two girls at the time were 27 months and 6 months. We spent a few days with Darryl's grandparents in Youngstown, OH, and then early one morning resumed our journey toward Providence. I had played with the girls, sang with them, told them stories, fed them snacks and finally around 10:30 a.m. they fell asleep. I picked up my Bible and read II Corinthians 12: 15, 5 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. Those scriptures seem to stand out in bold--was I willing to be spent for the Lord?