Remembering why I love girl ministry....

This weekend I had the exciting opportunity of going to the lifeway Girls MInistry conference with 9 of our Delight Leadership team. It was a great conference where we learned a lot but honestly our initial motives were not completely pure. We seem to be busy "doing" ministry lately and have not had much opportunity to just encourage and learn from each other. Several of our leaders are mommies with small children so their days are full of tending to the home front. Others are college students that we haven't really been able get to know well or even find out what they feel they need to make their ministry better. So..for the most part we enjoy just the opportunity to get away and have girl time together. But, just like last year, we learned and experienced so much in such a small amount of time.

Let me give you a sample of what we came away with.
If you work with teens at all then you are aware of how so many of our girls are in crisis situations. Today we are dealing with circumstances that even 5 years ago would of almost been unheard of.
One of my favorite parts of the forum is being able to choose breakout sessions that pertain to what I feel I need to know to make me a better leader to our girls. This years choices were great and so relevant to some of the very things we have dealt with lately.

The first breakout I chose was PORNOGRAPHY IN GIRLS with Becca Daniel and Lauren Farmer. I guess I wasn't real sure what would be covered in this but I was completely blown away to realize that it was nothing like guys and their problems with porn. Girls can be much more  suttle but yet dangerous in their choices concerning sexual exposure. Just a couple of the shocking statistics for you to dwell on...66% of teen girls have sent suggestive messages to others(sex ting) ..everything from nude pics of body parts to words that put guys minds exactly where they want them to go... 80% of 15-17 year old girls have experienced multiple hard core exposure to porn that leaves them desiring to experiment and willing to let their guard down. BTW most of this exposure takes place in their own homes! The average age of a girls first Internet exposure is 11. All of this compiled with the neediness of girls and their desire for any guys attention can spell disaster or produce a stronghold that has a lifetime of consequences.

CRISIS ISSUES IN GIRLS MINISTRY with Nancy Hamilton was yet another breakout that handled straight talk about hard issues our girls are facing. Cutting, eating disorders, porn, abortion, same sex attractions were just some of the issues that seem unfamiliar with many adults working in ministry to girls. Tough issues with hard lessons and long commitments can make our "walking through life " with teen girls so complicated. so draining...I almost felt exasperated as I left some of these sessions .If it wasn't for the fact that we have the hope..THE ONLY HOPE... they need. But we can't give it to them.We have to love them unconditionally, take time for them, listen, offer that Hope and pray that in the days ahead they will take it and let God heal and move them on to freedom in Christ.

We had many other breakout sessions to choose from. Just about any thing you were dealing with as a leader to girls was covered in our sessions. There were opportunities for new as well as old leaders to learn and be encouraged.

Our worship and keynote speakers led us and inspired us to think about and focus on our own spiritual lives. It was so amazing to praise the Lord with over 300 women that share your passion and calling.

I guess if I had to put into words what I took away from this conference it would really be much more than statistics and facts.

For years I have had a rather tearing feeling that I was winding down in girl(youth) ministry. I mean I am not the sharp, witty, 20 something that is relevant in every possible way to every young girl we minister to. Some of the events I am just plain tired of and I don't know if I can even stay awake long enough for one more Delight all night! But then I sit among our leadership team-doing what we really came here for- and listen to them pour out their hearts..listen to their passion to make a difference..to their struggles in their personal lives..and think back to when I was there. I really wish I had done alot of things differently. I wish I had pursued seminary or furthered my degree so I could better equip girls to handle these hard times. I am almost jealous at times of some of our team that probably have many years left to serve. But the beautiful thing is I am affirmed in my call. I don't feel God has released me to wander aimlessly through the church, searching for yet another potluck to attend. I may be patting and encouraging other leaders or I may be listening in my rocking chair but one thing is for sure. Times like this weekend make me remember
why I love girl ministry. I have the hope they need and God gives me daily the strength i need to give it out.
Tomorrow will be a beautiful day in ministry. We get to attend one of our precious new sisters in Christ baptism. Then we get to walk along side of her and many others just doing what I love to do most! LIVING LIFE TOGETHER!

the old...the now...the new!

This has truly been a busy weekend. It has been wonderful though and I am ending it feeling so blessed.
I get amazed at how God makes my life so full. Sure, I like to be busy. I have enjoyed the quiteness of the snow covered days but I feel like it is time to get this season on with it.

I have realized over the years that I am a people person. I love all kinds of people and I know that God puts people in our lives for different seasons and situations. This weekend has been full of people. People I have experienced life with in my past , people that fill my life now and even some new acquaintances that I pray are part of my future..both personal and ministry!

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend an event where several of my dear friends from my past were in attendance. "From my past" is certainly not to imply that they aren't friends now, but that I just don't have a daily relationship with them at this time. We laughed, hit a memory or two, and shared briefly what God is doing in our lives . It was sweet and affirming in many different directions for me.

This weekend was also full of family. There is something different about having grown-up children. Somewhere among the graduatons, jobs, multiple moves, and tears you look and your kids take on a different place in your life. Oh sure they will always be my chldren,but now I feel it is safe to say our relationship is changing. Dressing up and going out, playing speed scrabble way past midnight, worshiping together and celebrating my sweet daughter-in - la ws birthday..all in a weekends time. I love it- part of the best of this season!

This weekend has brought alot of "new" also. New people to possibly serve in ministry with,new people to possibly minister to, and new opportunites to possibly get involed in. Yes, I am comfortable with the now and I appreciate the past. But, I dream about the future and what God has in store for me . I wonder what the "new" will look like when it becomes the now and how will it of affected me when it becomes my past?
For now, I am laying this content body and spirit down. I could get anxious thinking about all
the future holds but I know that God holds the unknowns in His hands and HE IS GOOD!

Share this Season

If you know me well, you know that I love the month of January. I know, I know, it is not every ones favorite. But I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes from making it through yet another month of holiday festivities. The laziness I feel is some what rationalized and I love the time to reflect and regroup.

One of the things I have grown to love and look forward to the most is the restart of my ladies bible study on Tuesdays. It is so good to be together after taking a month off . We look forward to digging in the word again..well, actually that is not all..we love sharing our lives together. On any given bible study morning we can be caught laughing, crying, discussing, praying, telling stories  and sharing about those things that are such a part of our lives. 

We've studied a lot of different materials. Everything from Beth Moore to books of the bible have graced our time together. We have learned that whatever we study, God brings to light something new or something that is exactly what we need for the moment. IT is such a God thing. Who knew that the study of Jonah would shake up and interrupt the lives of these wives and mothers? God did that is who! God knew what we needed...each in our own way regardless of where we are in our personal walk with him. Each with struggles often too personal to share but sharing a desire to bring glory to God as we go through them. God speaks and His word challenges us to tears at times.

Oh I do love this season. Not just the blustery month of winter season...but the season of life God has me in right now. I love having women to go through this season with. No, we are not all best friends...we aren't all the same age..we don't have husbands that all act alike or work the same vocation. Our children are all ages and in many different seasons themselves. We all have different gifts and different hobbies...but one thing unites us all. We desire to learn how to live to bring joy to God's heart  and to have our lives reflect His love to those He has put in our lives. 

God is so good. His blessing are abundantly more than I deserve. Life is great but it can be hard. Do you have someone to go through this season with?