So Much More! Four Lessons for Women’s Leaders as You Begin Ministry in 2013

Thank you to women’s leader Debbie Stuart, Women’s Ministry Director, Prestonwood Baptist Church as she writes a challenge for us as we begin the new year in women’s ministry.

When the fall Bible Study semester ends at church, I always look forward to where the Lord will direct my study time through the Holiday season. I was less than thrilled when He directed me to…Lamentations. Seriously? Who studies Lamentations, especially through Christmas? Well, YOU do if that’s what the Lord says do. I thought it was in reference to a sad situation that our family is dealing with but I soon realized that the Lord had so much more he wanted to say.

I had no idea the lessons that awaited me in this little book about a broken heart.

May I encourage your heart with four life and leadership lessons from Lamentations:

Lamentations is about an unnecessary tragedy! An unwillingness to follow God, attempts to “do life” the way you want and a stubborn heart will lead to costly and tragic circumstances. Have you created your own affliction (like Jonah created his own storm by going the opposite direction)?
Lamentations describes the problem (that they created), the plea for help from God, their pledge of faith in Him and a promise to return to following God completely. F.B.Meyer: “Accept the lesson of your present pain and rebel no longer.”
There was so much more the Lord wanted to give and do in their lives and they almost forfeited it because of careless and foolish choices. They listened to people around them more than God. In Women’s Ministry there are lots of choices and lots of people with opinions. YOU MUST hear and heed the voice of the Lord if you are going to produce successful ministry in the days ahead.
Lamentations 2:17 – The Lord has done what he purposed. Pray today for the completion of God’s purpose in your life and leadership.

WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE AND MINISTRY??? Try This!

When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself.

Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer.

Don’t ask questions (Debbie Stuart!)- (insert your name here)

Wait for hope to appear.

Don’t run from trouble.

Take it “full-face.” The worst is never the worst.

Lamentations 3:28-30 (The Message)

Lamentations 3 reminds us that the faithful love of the Lord never ends, His mercies are new every morning, His compassion will never fail us. Great is His Faithfulness! I say to myself, The Lord is my help and I will put my trust in Him. (vs.24) Oh Child of God, There IS So Much More….

Joshua 13:1 – There remains very much land (so much more!) yet to be possessed.

I hope you will join me in 2013 and commit your life to SO MUCH MORE!

Debbie Stuart is Women’s Ministry Director, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX and a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She earned her Women’s Ministry Advanced Certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is a member of the Association of Women’s Ministry Professionals . In addition to being a conference and retreat speaker and Bible study teacher, she was the founder and director of Network Extravaganza in the Shreveport, Louisiana area. She is married and has two young adult children.