...your source for women's ministry tips,
events, resources and people
#358, sent to over 25,000 wm leaders &
friends
Greetings!
This week Jennifer shares some great life
advice in Words to Live By. We also
have a really fun Event Idea: Girlfriends
and God - More Than You Imagined, and
Robyne recommends some of her favorite
Bible study resource books.
We hope that you enjoy the issue and please
don't forget to visit our wonderful sponsors
-- they allow this eNewsletter to come to you
free of charge!
Recently I was asked by a friend to
contribute to a special book she was
compiling for her daughter. As a Mom of
sons, it was fun for me to offer her some
words to grow by. It got me to thinking...
During this time when my mailbox is full
of graduation announcements and wedding
invitations, these words may apply to lots
of young women. So I offer to you what I
offered to Hannah... some words to grow
by.
When you realize how powerful emotions
can be... Remember to always elevate
your faith above your feelings. Because
what you elevate highly governs you.
Feelings change, but, the precepts of
faith are unchanging. Put simply, feelings
change, truth changes you! Always allow
that which is eternal rather than
temporary to govern you.
2 Co 5:7
When you come to a sudden bump in the
road... Never allow your life
circumstances to define you, instead, let
them refine you. Hard things are like
heavenly sandpaper upon your life! God
uses them to shape and mold you into a
work of art. When you feel the pressure of
trials, remember that God won't allow them
to crush you, he intends for them to make
you beautiful. 2 Cor. 4:8-9
When you feel afraid... Always
exercise courage even when you don't feel
confident. Courage is a choice, confidence
is a feeling. Remember that courage and
confidence are not the same thing. Be
brave, my sweet Hannah for bravery
broadens you. Fear limits you. Ask God to
help you overcome earthly fear by
developing reverence for Him. The only
fear that brings you wisdom is the fear of
God. Fear Him, reverence Him and nothing
else will shake you. 2 Tim 1:7
When you don't like what you see in the
mirror... Look into the Mirror of
God's Word. When you do, you will see how
incredibly beautiful and valuable you are.
Merely glance into the bathroom mirror,
but, gaze into the Mirror of God's Word.
It will always show you the truth because
it is the Truth. Trust God's opinion of
you more than you trust others opinions or
even your own opinion of yourself.
Remember that only the Word of God is
eternal and it is worthy of your gaze. To
look into the mirror of God's word is to
see the face of God, and in doing so, you
are better equipped to see who you really
are. And, Hannah, you are beautiful and
dearly loved. Psalm 45:11
My friends, plant these words deep in the
soil of a young woman's heart that you
love-may they be words that grow into
sturdy and steadfast character.
Event Idea: Girlfriends and God... More
than You Imagined!
"If you love someone you will be loyal
to him (her) no matter what the cost. You
will always believe in him (her), always
expect the best of him (her), and always
stand your ground in defending him (her)."
I Corinthians 13:7 TLB
The Event: We used this theme for a
Women's Spring Retreat (Friday night
through Saturday afternoon). Our teaching
material came from the book, "The
Power of a Positive Friend" by Karol
Ladd and Terry Ann Kelly. Fabulous book!
It's about relationships - girlfriends,
Godly friends and our ultimate best friend
- Jesus!
Colors: We selected pink (any
shade) & black as the leading colors.
Decorations: Paper dolls, daisies &
smiley faces.
Craft: A wooden cross, painted
ahead of time in one of 3 colors - black,
white and brown. The ladies could use sand
paper to give them a rustic look, and then
decorate them with various-colored, little
plastic or glass beads, aquatic or
polished rocks, angels, conches, wire,
etc. They loved the craft!
Treats: Each lady found a gift bag
and buttermints on her pillow. The bags
were black canvas bags with handles. Each
bag was stamped with pink letters reading,
"Girlfriends & God." Each bag had a pretty
pink edging with white daisies that was
purchased at a fabric store. Each bag also
had a pink silk daisy (inexpensive ones we
purchased from Wal-Mart and then painted)
attached by a safety pin. Also attached to
the safety pin was a loop made from a
little hot pink satin rope or a tiny pink
ribbon with white polka dots. At the end
of each loop was a silver cross. Each bag
contained a pen in the shape of a cross, a
kazoo, a package of tissues, and 2 strings
of beads (like mardi gras beads), one
colored pink and the other black. (Some
ladies wore them around their necks,
others wore them around their ankles or
wrists. They were creative!)
The kazoos were used in Friday night's
worship - breaking the ice with silliness.
We ended Friday night's teaching with the
craft and a secret surprise of serving
banana splits or sundaes.
We also ordered pink T-shirts with only
our church name (in black ink) across the
front with black daisy outlines underneath
the church name. What didn't sell at the
Retreat, our youth group and other ladies
who didn't get to attend the retreat
bought right up!
Each lady was provided with a pocket
folder that held all of their teaching
materials for the weekend and four
encouragement cards.
Encouragement Cards: We placed
black wicker baskets around, and as the
ladies fill out cards with encouraging
notes to each other, they were deposited
into the baskets. Another team of ladies
delivered the notes.
On each guest door (we stay in a lodge
that has rooms much like a hotel room),
holders were made from styrofoam plates,
painted black and tied together with pink
ribbons. The guest's name was on the front
of the holder, as well as the Retreat
theme and Scripture. The encouraging notes
were then placed in the holder.
Small Groups: At the end of each
teaching, we had quiet time, and small
group time. Small groups were created from
their outside interests. On their
registration form, each lady had to choose
her top 3 areas of interest from a given
list, i.e., crafts, gardening, fitness &
sports, antiques, garage sales, etc. We
then put the groups together based on
their numbered picks. This puts the ladies
with other ladies, possibly new
girlfriends, who share the same interest,
and not necessarily who they drove to the
retreat with! It was amazing to see how
God evenly divided the groups!
Oh, and then we made name badges (the
safety-pin plastic badges) containing
their first & last name and a specific
picture icon for their group, i.e.,
gardeners had a smiling watering can,
fitness & sports had a girl running
wearing a head band, the
baking/cooking/grilling group had an oven
mitt, etc. So as the ladies arrived, they
were encouraged to go find the other
ladies in her small group by the pictures
on their name badges. They enjoyed that
and many of them had located the others in
their small group before the evening
started.
Door Prizes: We gave 4-5 door
prizes away at the end of teaching session
(Friday night, Saturday morning and
Saturday afternoon) based on the process
of elimination of silly questions: "who
shaved their legs for the retreat?" "who
painted her toe nails pink for the
retreat?" "who has the most gray hair?"
"who still has their natural color?"
"who's wearing black lace panties?" and
yes, she had to prove it - modestly of
course. Most of the door prizes were
donated by people who have private
businesses in our own church. We received
donations by nail salons, hair salons,
ladies who market cosmetic lines, etc.
Blessings on both ends!
It was a great weekend to remember and
learn about girlfriends & God!
Submitted by: Newchurch in Oklahoma City
Sponsors keep this newsletter FREE
Let them know you heard about them from
Women's Ministry.Net
If you want to get your contact
information out to Women's Ministry
leaders who are looking for speakers,
musicians and dramatists for their
events... you need to have a listing in
the
WomensMinistry.Net Directory!
Java with Jennifer is an informal
monthly ministry update
specifically for friends who want to keep
up-to-date on what is happening with
Jennifer Rothschild's ministry of writing,
speaking, and singing.
Obviously, because you are receiving this
eNewsletter, you are signed up for the
Jennifer's "weekly" WomensMinistry.NET
eNewsletter. However, if you want to
get up close, and personal with Jennifer,
just click on the Update Profile
link at the bottom of this email, and
select the Java with Jennifer
interest group when asked to update your
profile.
I have to admit, I have an addiction...
I love Bible study resource books.
I have many of them on my computer, but I
also have shelves packed with books that I
just cannot let go of. I wander into any
bookstore and like a magnet, I am drawn to
the shelves filled with commentaries,
concordances, dictionairies, encyclopedias
and atlases.
I know that there are some of you out
there who totally "get" this, and for each
of you, I will share some of my favorites
with you.
reaching more than 20,000 influential
women's ministry leaders across the world.
Click here for
Advertising Rates
Here's what some of our recent Ad
Sponsors are saying:
"We have never been disappointed in how
advertising in the WomensMinistry.NET
newsletter has put us in touch with women
of prayer all across the world. Thank you,
Phil and Jennifer, for this AWESOME
newsletter. The MDOP ministry will be
forever blessed because of it."
Kathy Coleman, Founder, Mom's Days of
Prayer
Great Ideas Book Bundle Giveaway
The new book giveaway at
WomensMinistry.NET gives you more chances
to win more!
Here's how it works... send us your great
ideas and if we use them in a newsletter
you will be automatically entered to win
the book bundle for the quarter. The more
great ideas you submit, the more chances
to win. At the end of the quarter we will
announce the winner and the books she has
won!
Its that time of year again! ... Our
popular WomensMinistry.NET Directory of
Speaker, Authors, and other Gifted
Communicators is accepting renewals
and new listings for 2007. Silver and Gold
Listings receive special pricing on
eNewsletter Sponsor Ads.
If not, you are missing out on a great
opportunity! The
WomensMinistry.Net Directory is the
first place many women's ministry leaders
visit to find speakers, musicians and
dramatists for their events.
