LET'S TALK ABOUT IT - WOMAN TO WOMAN

I posted an article regarding a subject that's dear to my heart over the weekend. I'm not sure how many of you got it but I would like for you to leave a comment so I can hear your heart. Let's have a conversation about women to women in the Body of christ. Who knows maybe we will come up with some great ideas on how we can better serve each other. If you did not receive the article please let me know and I'll send it to you. Can we talk woman to woman?
Blessings
Marjorie.

Woman To Woman

Hi Sisters, it's been a long time since you've heard from me. I've had a lot on my mind lately and thought why not share them with you. A year ago last fall I went to a women's conference in Atlanta alone, mainly because I didn't have a friend who was able to go with me. I made up my mind that come what may I'm going, so off I went. I am so glad I did because God showed up in so many ways. I had women reaching out to me from every side. I was amazed by their willingness to go out of their way for a stranger. But after all I wasn't a stranger, I was their sister from Toronto. In one case my Atlantan sister didn't know where I was from when she reached out and took my hand squeezing it during the a service as tears ran down my cheeks, she was letting me know that she was there for me in that moment. Being met with such love, encouragement and acceptance reassured me of God's love for me.

Unfortunately that does not happen everyday and in every church. Women are starved emotionally needing a friend. (What I call A sista friend) It saddens me that we are not experiencing this kind of unconditional love and support from our sisters in the Lord more often. There is such a longing for love and acceptance in the body of Christ among women today that is unnecessary because it doesn't take much. A few minutes of your undivided attention will go a long way. The women in the New Testament certainly knew how important it was to support each other. Almost every time we see them they were in groups, they cried together at the cross and even at the grave. It was Jesus who brought them together and after His ascension their relationships continued.

Busy is the buzz word in church today, too busy to see what's going on around us. With cell phones and computers we don't seem to find it necessary to speak face to face as much. Though we have phones we don't talk as much as we text. How are we to minister to each other through text? Do you know how I really feel when you're only reading my words on your computer or phone? There is nothing like another sister's shoulder to cry on, especially one who there and understands. Sometimes she doesn't understand but there is such a connection that she reaches out and touches you exactly where you hurt by the work of the Holy Spirit. When that kind of connection happens the devil is in trouble.

The bible says "says two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor."(Ecclesiastes 4:9) I like the word labor here, because it denotes work. Look at this definition of labor - The process by which childbirth occurs, beginning with contractions of the uterus and ending with the expulsion of the infant and the placenta. If it's one thing we women who have given birth know, it's how to labor. We must as sisters in Christ labor with each other until she gets a breakthrough. We have to become midwives for each other, because there are times we want to give up before the baby comes and that could put the baby in jeopardy. There are some things inside of us that if we just get together and begin to encourage each other to bear down and PUSH we will see some awesome women of God emerge with unimaginable ministries. Jesus said, "If two of you agree on earth concerning anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven". (Matthew 18:19) I think you are getting the picture, too many ministries have been stuck in the birth canal, why not come into agreement with your sister and encourage her to push until ministry is birth. I hope you hear my heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to a sister, wrap your arms around her if she'll let you, or take hold of her hand and gently squeeze it, letting her know you are there for her. God richly bless you my Sisters.

BECOMING MORE FRUITFUL!

JOHN 15:8,16

 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear  fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

This summer I decided that I was going to be diligent in my gardening. You can imagine this has been hard work, but what has been helpful is the thought that in the long run it will pay off. In fact I’m starting to enjoy some vegetables already!

A few days ago I was gazing at the garden and noticed that it was time to give support to the tomatoes. As I looked at the different plants that were coming up I realize that each one needed some kind of support and nurturing. The tomatoes needed a different kind of support from the beans, zucchini cucumber and beets. Tomatoes need something to lean on while beans and cucumber need something to climb and wrap around. Zucchini need room enough to spread out it’s large leafs and while some do well in the shade others do better in the sun.

I realized that it was my responsibility to give the specific support needed, because I chose, bought and planted these vegetables. As an amateur gardener, it is my responsibility to educate myself concerning these plants. I must know what’s in my garden and how to take care of it In order to secure the best possible fruit. I must also be diligent also in cultivating and pulling up the weeds in the garden. The plants can’t do this themselves.

In the same way, Jesus is saying we did not choose Him but rather He chose us and planted us in the Kingdom. He knows where each of us belong and what kind of fruit we are called to bear.  He knows who needs exactly what and precisely when. As we begin to grow some need a trellis right away to climb on, others can wait until fruit appears and so needing the support to lean on.

Even as weed come up in our lives Jesus as our gardener knows when its time to pull them up by the roots with the help of the Holy Spirit. The beautiful thing about the Holy Spirit is that He, our ultimate helper is able to be whatever we need Him to be at the time. We can lean on Him; we can climb up on Him and wrap ourselves around Him for support. In essence He’s our gardener. The tragedy is that we seem to want to stand alone bearing the weight of the fruit and the enemy is having a field day eating up our labor. Jesus said when He left earth that He would send a helper for us.  As Jesus has brought us into His kingdom, He will be faithful to His responsibility to take care of us.  That’s why the Holy Spirit is here. It is needless for us to struggle on our own, with the result of bearing little to no fruit.   

I have noticed something about gardening, and that is if I don’t give the support needed to the plant there will be fruit, but not necessarily good fruit. You see the worms would get to it first and ruin it. After the worms get into the fruit it’s no longer considered good fruit. This reinforces the need for us to draw on the help of the Holy Spirit to secure the quality of our fruit.

Something else that occurred to me was that these plants were all planted in the same garden about the same time, subject to the same sun, rain, and water I would spray on them. However some developed faster than others. Some had the signs of fruit and yet we haven’t been able to eat of it yet, still some that seemed slow at the beginning have yielded mature fruit that we have enjoyed already. In other words they matured at a different pace. We must refrain from judging those who are a little slower than us, whose fruit is not yet evident. Sometimes we can say things like “Wasn’t she there when Pastor taught on that subject? Or She’s been saved for three years and still need someone to help her?” We must realize that we are all different in the way we learn, understand and learn grow.

In recent years there have been several studies that show how children learn differently. Even for those of us who have children know that that they are different in the way they learn and so we don’t say to one “why can’t you be like your brother?” That’s like saying to the tomato plant, “Where is your bean?” We must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work and in due season we will see the fruit, matured. Jesus chose us to bear fruit in His kingdom and not only just fruit but also much fruit that will remain. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to help us. Whether we need to lean, climb or wrap ourselves around Him for support and protection in the various seasons of our life so that through our fruit the Father will be glorified. (John 15:8)

FOUR GIGGLING LITTLE GIRLS

Yesterday as I ministered at the alter four little girls came to me. I asked them how I could pray for them, and to my delight their request came almost all-together. "We are cousins and we just met and we want to stay in contact." As I looked at them, they were just giggling little  girls, so sweet and innocent.  I prayed for them as we huddled together and I could see their smiling faces looking at each other. Clearly this was love of the purest kind. After I prayed they burst into giggles and had lots of hugs for each other, I even got in on the hugs. You see two of the girls were visiting from Florida and the others live here in toronto. 

I thought to myself how sweet, Pastor Val just mentioned we should be childlike in our faith walk and the Lord allowed me to see and experience this before I left the building. Later as I watched them laugh and ran around hugging each other I couldn't help but think it seemed they knew each other forever. What had  seperated these four till now, we may never know. To them it didn't matter, they were together now and that's what mattered. They didn't have the baggage we adults seem to carry around, they just found commonality and that was enough. They found giggling girls like themselves. 

This month is designated to youth and children at Rhema, lets learn one of two things from our children. They think so simply and their faith is as they are, childlike. These girls thought enough of their new found relationship to ask God for help in maintaining it, wow. This childlike faith is rare among adults and that's partly the reason why we are not able to access the promises of God.

Many of us women are caring issues and hurts that continue to hinder us. Why not surrender them to the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to help us forgive and release ourselves and those who have hurt us. In doing so we are able to move forward into purpose and destiny. It's worth it for those who are waiting.

Last year I heard Bishop Bismark said of the woman with the issue of blood. (Mark 5:25-34) She had to press through the crowd  to touch Jesus not just for herself, but also for the girl He would raise from the dead later. She was not to touch a priest neither should a priest touch a dead person. However all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) Sometimes we can focus on our circumstances so much that we forget those who would benefit from our deliverance. What if this woman had said , "these people are cruel and I really shouldn't go near the crowd in my condition." We probably  wouldn't know about her or the girl. What story is not being written so the next generation can be inspired. It's time to write your story.

I WANT TO KNOW HIM; AGAIN

Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

1 Chronicles 16:10-11 - Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

Psalm 9:10b - For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

I’ve found something out about myself and that is, I have spent a lot of time seeking to know people and for them to know me instead of seeking to know God. It is something that has consumed a large chunk of my Christian life, it would seem. In doing this I have allowed myself to be bound up by spirits of rejection, intimidation and frustration to name a few. This has cost me greatly in wasted time and energy. Realizing this I’ve made a decision, and that is, “I Want To Know Him, again.” 

In order to know him I must seek Him. He promised that when I seek Him I will find Him, but it has to be with my whole heart. (Jeremiah 29:13) The problem is my heart has not been wholly devoted to seeking Him. In fact most of it was dedicated to seeking people and their approval. That has changed lately.

I want to know His voice so clearly that there is no question in my mind when He speaks to me. I want to hear Him speak to me ever so softly again, calling my name, giving me direction, creative concepts and yes, correction when needed. I want to be still in His presence and just listen and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) I want to have some of those experiences that I’ve read in the bible and other current account I’ve heard of.  When I know Him like that, then I’ll be able to lead others to Him. I found out it’s impossible to lead others where I’ve not been.

I had an opportunity to go to a woman’s event and one of the speakers reminded us of Jesus’ promise to us as our Bridegroom. He has gone to prepare a place for us His Bride, and He will return to sweep us off our feet. (John 14:2-3) She went on to say that Jesus is not like those guys that say they want to marry you and then change their minds when they find out something about you that they don’t like. He knew all about us, the fact that we would cheat on Him and yet He says “I’m coming back for you.” His love for us is unconditional; He is not going to change His mind, He is a Man of His word.

This comment has left me thinking that I’m getting ready for a Bridegroom I don’t really know much about, so I am on a quest to know Him. Her challenge to us was, instead of just reading His word and being satisfied that we accomplished that task that day, why not take some time to talk and actively listen to the Writer. We can sometimes rush read and pray and never connect to him, then we wonder why we feel so out of sorts and overwhelmed throughout our day.

I believe that this is a season where God is calling us to deeper intimacy and that will be difficult if we don't deliberately set some time to be quiet before Him. Carve out some quality time and connect with Him today. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6) There are great benefits to doing so. We can receive clear direction that will keep us on course, and He enjoys spending time talking and listening with us.