Leadership Lab Learnings

Last night, I started teaching our fall semester Leadership Lab class. I can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday evening than with a group of emerging and growing leaders who are pursuing God. During our orientation night, I asked each person to fill out an information page for me so I could get to know them a bit more. At the end of the class, I collected them and brought them back to the office with me this morning. Wow! Remember the movie, A Beautiful Mind? Well words and phrases just lit up on the pages as I read over them; each one highlighting how God has so gifted our church through these people and revealing hearts that are hungry to know God in more intimate and purposeful ways. I am continually amazed by people and the work of God in their lives. Reading through these sheets, I learned about these people's gifts and passions, what they want to learn, what character qualities they are eager to develop, and what leadership skills they want to hone. I love how God has a unique plan for each of us and the way He works His purposes out in each of our lives is so amazing. It is beyond us. In the next couple of months, I will be a grandmother. That looks weird when I read that. Anyway, the older I get, the more I don't know what I really thought I knew. I do know this. God is as multi-faceted as there are people on the planet. The plans He has for me are not even close to the plans He has for you. The journey He is taking me on is completely different from the one you are taking with Him. I love that I can turn to Him wherever I might find myself on that journey and He is there. And He is right there for each of us; wherever we are. I don't know what God has in store for the people who have stepped out to participate in this group. But I do know that it will be amazing. Just like Him.

When I first felt “called” to ministry, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling or experiencing. I had a very clear knowing that God was calling me to serve him in the church; but I had no idea what that looked like or how it would work. Something that I’ve recently read and its nothing new, but it struck me as I’m meeting and talking with women frequently about their lives and their service to God, that there are different callings and I just want to touch on those in case you haven’t heard this for a while

There is the call to faith that is reflected in 1 Corinthians 1:26. This is a call to salvation. You definitely sense it, feel it or hear it in some way and have the choice to respond to it.

There is the call to minister. This is reflected in Hebrews 2:3-4 and 1 Corinthians 12:18. God is calling you to serve others, serve people, serve one another. This is also something you sense to be; others-oriented and to see your work as a minister to God; whether you are a wife, career woman or mom.

Then there is the call to ministry. This is reflected in Romans 1:1. This is more of a vocational call. You might discern a clear direction to a people group, church, mission or organization. This is full-out, life-long ministry. If you are called in this way, God will continue to pursue you, no matter what you do, no matter where you run. You will feel the holy discontent of not fitting unless you are in ministry.

When I first stepped into the glass slipper of ministry, I landed in the Kitchen Coordinator ministry position. I had applied for something else that was available. I wanted the bookstore/library position. I love research and reading and helping people learn to live into what God has created them for so working with books was just perfect FOR ME. Books have no problems and sit quietly on shelves, but, that isn’t where God wanted me. It was where I wanted me. I felt I had completely surrendered to what He wanted, so I just questioned His invitation for a day or so before saying a very loud and excited “YES!” And, let me tell you, I have said “yes” many times along the way and it has been an incredible adventure. I’ve been in ministry on our church staff for 14 years as Intern, Women's Pastor, First Impressions Pastor, Connections Pastor and now as Leadership Development Pastor, but look at where it all started. In the kitchen. It is a Cinderella story!

Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” So, don’t be quick to say “no” to opportunities that might not look like what you first envisioned ministry should look like for you. Be open. Be daring. Be ready for an adventure. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “you are not your own”. Live like you know whose you are. Here are a few things I've learned in this adventure.

1. Make sure you have surrendered “your” ministry, your goals, your ideas, your way to His way. It helps ease any pain you might encounter later when things don’t work out exactly like you planned. Romans 12:1, “present your bodies a living sacrifice…”

2. Find a mentor or two. Ask a lot of questions of one who is older than you or has more experience in ministry. It is smart to find one who does not attend your church and will challenge your thinking.

3. Be respectful of everyone you work with. Be kind. Be gracious. You will not always want to be. You will find people who rub you the wrong way. You will come up against some who do not think you fit there. Be kind. Call it when you need to, but speak the truth in love.

4. Be inquisitive. Be a life-long learner. As you engage in ministry, take on learning opportunities that are outside your realm of immediate ministry or service through seminars and conferences. Stretch yourself.

5. Be vocal. Share your thoughts, your questions, your insights and your stories from your ministry and experience with your staff. Make suggestions. Share your opinion when the floor is open to you. Don’t let opportunities to speak and share your wisdom pass you by. Engage in the staff discussions.

6. Be bold and courageous. God did not give you a spirit of timidity. If He has called you, He has you there for a reason. Continue to discover it and live into it.

7. Assume the role you've been given. You’ve been given a role, a responsibility and the authority it carries. Don’t act like an admin, if you are not an admin. Don’t act like a lead pastor if you are not one.

Glass Slippers

All of us are familiar with the story of Cinderella, right? Cinderella was an orphan left at the hands of her unkind step-mother after her own mother and then her father died. She was assigned a place among the ashes of the fireplace and worked hard to serve and please others. Her rightful place was overseeing the household and enjoying the inheritance her father had left to her, but her unkind and greedy step-mother wanted it all for herself and her own daughters. So, poor Cinderella was relegated to a position that was far less than what her father would have ever intended for her.

Like every girl, she had dreams of a good and purposeful life, but somewhere in all of the twists and turns of her destiny, she lost her identity. Others shaped her path; her step mother, her step sisters. She didn’t own the house and land that was rightfully hers. She knew in her heart that there was more for her, but she was unable to attain or accomplish it.

She heard about the Prince hosting a grand ball, a party, and she wanted to go. She was teased by her step mother and sisters with the possibility of going, but they had no intentions of letting her go. They just dangled the carrot. But, someone heard her cries. Her God-mother. Her God-mother made her presentable for the party. She was cleaned up and given a new dress and new hair-do and transportation and people to serve her needs and most importantly, brand new shoes. Glass slippers made just for her.

Some boundaries were given along with this new opportunity and new freedom. She was given a specific time frame for all of this to happen. Of course, she meets the Prince, dances all night, they fall in love; but, her time is up. As she is racing against the clock in order to keep her promise to her God-mother to be back home by a certain time, she loses her glass slipper. This led to some problems. The carriage that carried her to the party turned back into a pumpkin. The horses that powered the carriage turned back into mice and her beautiful new dress turned back into dirty rags.

But, her shoe remained where she lost it and as the Prince chased after her, he found it. He determined to find her. After much searching, he does find her and the glass slipper designed precisely for her, fit perfectly. She married her Prince, forgave her step-mother and step-sisters and a new life opened up to her. Cinderella rose out of the ashes and into the castle.

Cinderella is a story of unjust oppression and triumphant reward. In fact the word “Cinderella” means one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity and neglect.

Now, this story speaks to my heart. It seems similar to my life experience. In other ways, it does not. Any of you feel like Cinderella in any way, shape or form? Can you see the similarities of her life and ours as women, as women who want to serve God in the way that He gifted us? Has God lifted you out of the ashes and into His castle, His church, His world, His service?

Since I totally miss Thanksgiving being celebrated at all in any stores or mentioned anywhere except in women's magazines that pretty much only celebrate how to cook a turkey, I thought I would post this...The First National Thanksgiving Proclamation (really)
Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; Whereas, both the houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." Now therefore, I do recommend next, to be devoted by the people of the states to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be, that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country. - George Washington, 1779
Way to go, George!!

Politics

I voted today. Early voted. I still believe that my voice deserves to be heard through a vote. We can do better. We need to think differently, work harder, care deeply, pray and get involved in making a difference in our country. We live in an amazing place, in an amazing time so what's with the apathy?

We are here for a purpose. What's yours?

Picture this...a hilltop covered with lush trees of every kind, a view of the city in the distance, enticing aromas from the "community" kitchen, the best coffee in the world, monkeys in the mornings and a group of committed people who love the Lord. These were some of my first glimpses into Brazil, the YWAM base that we stayed at and the YWAM people who live there.

I loved not going to work every day and sitting behind a desk, planning, talking ministry, having meetings. I love my work, but this was an incredible change in my schedule and it was a perfect setting. Our team from Chase Oaks was a dream team! We loved being together and working side by side. We cooked, cleaned, prayed, and loved on those who we met!

Those who serve at Jocum were lovely people, uniquely called by God to be exactly where they are right now. I'm thankful for them and the steps they have taken to follow the spiritual journey that God has them on. It has not been easy for any of them and they continue to struggle in their endeavors - financially, emotionally, physically and I would suspect spiritually. And, they keep going. I loved their perseverance in the midst of their difficulties.

This was a beautiful experience. Recife and the places we visited are beautiful. The people are friendly and beautiful. But, their struggles and needs are great. We attempted to help those we could. We did what we believed God asked us to do. And now that we're home, we will continue to pray for them, tell others their stories, love them, facebook them and support them as we can.

If everyone does something to love another as they do themselves, to impact another life, we can make a difference. What will you do today?

Future Participation

Here we are at the beginning of June and it feels like the summer is over. How is it that I seem to dwell in the future and don't fully live in the present? I admit it. I do like to plan and think ahead and be prepared. But, I'm also enough of a realist to know that I can't always prepare. No one knows the future...

What I do know is that I will be participating in a missions trip to Brazil in a couple of weeks. I am very excited to work in another part of the world and to see what God is up to. I'm always encouraged about the future when I travel or experience different conferences, church services, or how a community is being impacted by the people who live there. I sometimes get so caught up in my own world, that I forget that God is everywhere, working everywhere, listening everywhere, and answering prayers everywhere.

I'm not approaching this trip with any expectations - other than God will be there. Flexibility and open-handedness seems like the right way to go into this. I've refused to plan much because I just want to be available. Well, I'm packing a suitcase and preparing for a women's retreat we'll offer while there and praying for everyone involved, but I'm trying to surrender everything else that might be of me. Whatever God. Let's just do this together. I'm leaving this future participation in Your hands.