God Has Brought You To This Point

by Linda Montes

Greetings Ladies! 

I’m excited about the opportunity to renew hope and commitments. By now, in the midst of our busy lives, our New Year's resolutions have fallen by the wayside and have long been forgotten. But we can determine to resurrect our good intentions and start all over to commit to ministry and fulfill our calling.

Our hectic lifestyles and heavy demands on our time makes it a challenge to find women who are willing to volunteer their service to God, to make it a priority. Understandably so. Yet my heart is moved by women who approach me and let me know they want to find their place, because God is calling them to lead. And all we did to accomplish this was pray. So I urge each of you to pray and to mobilize a team of women to pray for your church. Enlist the prayer ministry in your church (or start one) to pray for every woman God will bring to your group. You will be amazed at what God does in answer to the prayers of His people! We’d love to hear stories of answered prayer as you begin to see the tangible results. May the Lord bless you and provide everything you need to serve the women in your care.

Love, 
Linda Q. Montes 

Choices surround us everyday – where we live, where our children go to school, what we will cook for dinner, or what job to take. But there is one choice we do not have. When we make the choice to live in absolute surrender to Jesus, we do not choose the call He places on our lives. That is His choice to assign to us, based on what gifts He created us with.

In Jeremiah 26, verses 2-7, Jeremiah was given a tough assignment – to boldly preach a coming judgment if the people did not repent! Rarely, are we ever called to do something so dangerous in our lives today. Yet, God may place a calling on our lives that might seem inconvenient, or even a bit intimidating.

Some of you may be called and preparing to lead a Bible study group for the very first time and possibly you feel incapable of such a task. Or perhaps you are a mentor and feel unqualified to teach younger women in the ways of God. The truth of the matter is, if God has brought you to this point and called you to do this task, He will equip you to minister to the women He brings to you. The mission to which God calls us is rarely easy or convenient, yet the blessings that come from obedience to the call far outweigh any fear or inconveniences you may face.

It may require more discipline to pray or study the Word, it may require opening your home to a group of ladies who are hungry for God’s Word, or it may mean spending a little time preparing to administrate a class. The guarantee however, for ministering to ladies in the Lord, is the abundant life we read about in John 10:10. It may cost time, money, or effort, but the contentment from being in the absolute center of God’s will is indescribable.

Ladies, be encouraged as we begin a beautiful spring season, a time for new beginnings. Enoy the fresh blooms around you. Anticipate what God will do through you, ministering through your gifts. Expect Him to change the lives of the women you lead, their marriages, and the manner in which they parent. And then you can rest in the fact you were faithful to accept your call. We are praying for you, the women God has assigned to you, and your helpers. 

Tips for success:

Decorate your Dorcas room so that it is pleasing to the eye and comforting. Fresh flowers, maybe even some good smelling candles, go a long way. Perhaps have a fresh pot of coffee brewing and some homemade goodies. Chocolate is always a favorite with ladies! Food has a way of breaking the toughest barriers.

Encourage your helpers (or gather some young moms who want a place to be involved) to be your Greeters. Have them stand outside the classroom door and place them strategically inside to greet all ladies, but especially newcomers and visitors. Don’t let any women sit alone in Bible class! Stress to your team that every woman is loved and accepted in Christ. These few ideas will go a long way in making your women feel very comfortable. This can also make a prayer meeting feel special.