This week Jennifer's Column features one of our favorite articles from the WomensMinistry.Net archives.

As a little girl, on my way to church each Sunday, our family passed a beautiful Catholic Church. It was stately and ornate and it always caught my gaze. But, I’ll never forget the first Sunday that I was totally captivated by its mystery and wonder. You see, as a child I could see well; so colors, architecture, and even signage always captured my attention. So you’ll understand my astonishment when my eyes landed on an ordinary street sign planted in the parking lot of this extraordinary church. It read, “Angle Parking Only.” I was only 6 or 7 years old and I wasn’t completely hooked on phonics at that point! I thought it had read, “ANGEL parking only!”

I was overwhelmed with wonder that the Catholic’s had angels attending their services – and they even had special reserved parking for them! The Baptist church I attended only had humans attending our services and the only reserved parking for our pastor – another human! But the Catholics had shiny medals, cool prayers and now, angels! I do remember that I became a little deflated and confused when I glanced through the angel parking area and noticed the celestial beings drove such average vehicles!

It wasn’t until many years later I realized my spelling snafu. It was kind of fun assuming angels had a place to park at the Catholic church, but it was wrong. You see, my assumption was based on limited knowledge and a misunderstanding. Over the years of my life, I fear I’ve done the same thing. I’ve operated under wrong assumptions based on lack of knowledge in other, far more consequential areas. Probably more often than I’d like to admit! As a college student, I assumed too much, and made poor choices. As a young wife, I made assumptions based on misunderstandings, which resulted in marriage strain. But what’s a girl to do? Don’t we gain knowledge and understanding by testing, trying, learning and even, making mistakes? Yes, but we need a more reliable source.

Life is too important to risk living out of faulty assumptions.

Thankfully, there is a knowledge greater than one’s GPA; an understanding higher than one’s SAT score! It’s not based on testing, trying and experience; it’s based on truth. It is God’s Wisdom! And HE gives it liberally to all who ask Him for it. Even now, I lean hard into His wisdom – I need it – I am a poor scholar and when it comes to intellectual stature, I fell like a midget! That’s why I paraphrase the words of Solomon to you – May we each trust in the Lord with ALL our hearts and lean NOT on our own understanding. (Prov. 3:5)

I want the assumptions I make in life to be based on Godly wisdom and timeless truth, and I bet you do too. Have you made assumptions based on a misunder- standing or lack of knowledge? If so, ask God for wisdom. He won’t hold it against you. He even gives wisdom to one who actually thought angels had reserved parking!

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NAS)

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Lessons I Learned in the Dark,
and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET
email me: JR@jenniferrothschild.com

It's that time of the year again... is your Women's Ministry ready to "hit the ground running?"

I spend a lot of time with many different women's ministry leaders and see a lot of different approaches to ministry. So, I know that some of you have the next year of events and studies mapped out for your ministry and probably even have them all on your church calendar. But I also know that others of you are just beginning your Fall planning, and are thinking "Hey, it IS only August! We have plenty of time!"

With all this in mind, we have compiled a checklist that you can use to double-check your plan... or begin your plan for Fall ministries!

Have a great time this Fall with your ladies!

In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor

robyne@womensministry.net

There Is A Season
An 11-week video-based Bible study by Laurie Cole
Struggling to live a consistent Christian life while riding a roller-coaster of hormonal ups and down every month? There Is A Season equips women of all ages with the truths they need to experience contentment in every season of life.

Music and Ministry...This has been Bridget Taylor's focus for the past 18 years. As both a Top 20 Inspirational singer, speaker and author, Bridget has traveled the US making a difference one life at a time!

Are you ready for a life changing conference?....Bridget Taylor's I CHOOSE JOY! Conferences teach women that having a joy-filled life can begin today, in spite of our circumstances. One or two day conferences available. Sample her music at bridgettaylor.com.

Objectives: To get women to open up and speak out, and also to realize that women have played an important part in history.

Materials: None

Procedure: Put together a short paragraph or list of facts about different women from history and/or the Bible. You can describe who they are, when/where they lived, what they did, etc.

The leader then reads the paragraph or list, and the first one to stand up got to answer, stating their answer as a Jeopardy question. (Who was Corrie ten Boom? Who was Eleanor Roosevelt? and so on.) If they answered correctly, they received a small prize.

Hint: If you are doing this with a large group of women, have a couple assistants to help you spot who stands up first.

Submitted by: Deb Brenneman of Camp Hill, PA

Did you miss the June Issue of Java with Jennifer?

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