Jars and I have had an ongoing, antagonistic relationship for years. It doesn't matter if they house pickles, salsa or jam.

The contents aren't the source of my annoyance, it's their lids that keep me agitated. I wrap my bony hands around their circumference and tug to no avail. I want their lids unscrewed, they remain cemented in their smug, unmoving position atop their jars! I strain, grunt and yank on those stubborn lids and nothing happens except my wrist hurts, and my frustration grows. Inevitably, I call to one of the male species living in my home and with reconciled defeat ask, "Could you please open this jar?"

But, I am now advantaged over those glass menaces in my kitchen, and its all because of a tool that costs less than a dollar. The rubber gripper I now hide in my kitchen drawer has totally changed the balance of power. I grab a jar, grab the gripper and show those jars who's the boss! Rarely do I have to call for a jar opening rescue, I have overcome! (Hum the Rocky theme here.)

Now here's the question...

Who should get the credit for this massive achievement, the one who used the tool or the tool itself?

The Prophet Isaiah asked a similar question...

"Is the ax to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?" Isaiah 10:15

You and I are tools.

We are simply the means by which God does His work here on earth. Some of us are shiny and important tools. Some of us feel like tools made of flimsy pieces of rubber that costs less than a dollar! Some of us think we are absolutely indispensable as tools. But, we are just tools and we are only effective when we are used. To rephrase the question posed in Isaiah, is the tool to boast itself over the One who uses it?

William Temple once said, "Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all."

Oh for the freedom to simply be a tool in God's hand. To recognize both our value and our dispensability. We are worthy tools when we are more mindful of The One who uses us than we are of ourselves. To have a "right estimate of oneself" is what Charles Spurgeon said it means to be humble.

So, don't dismiss your importance as a tool in God's hand, but guard yourself from overestimating your importance. Make a right estimate of yourself, and use that right estimation to bring glory to the kind God who uses all of us in spite of ourselves!

"True merit, like a river, the deeper it is, the less noise it makes." (Edward Frederick Halifax)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET

The best information we receive about the nuts and bolts of Women's Ministry is when we hear what you all are doing "in the trenches." Our weekly poll is your opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with all of our subscribers!

Each week we ask a question, and share a link for you to post your answers. The following week we provide a link where you can see the results of the question, along with a new question. It takes just a minute, and your input is immediately added.

Sound like fun? This week's question is:

What kinds of classes do you offer for women in the summer?

Answer the question HERE.

Here are the results from the last three polls.

How many women are on your leadership team?

• Church size: 0 to 100 - Average # team: 4
• Church size: 101 to 300 - Average # team: 6
• Church size: 301 to 1500 - Average # team: 6
• Church size: 501 to 1000 - Average # team:8
• Church size: 1001 to 5000 - Average # team: 10+
• Church size: 5000+ - Average # team: 6

How much time do you devote to Women's Ministry each week?

• WM Directors (part-time paid staff) - 71% serve 16+ hours per week
• WM Directors (part-time volunteer) - 40% serve 6- 10 hours per week
• Bible study leaders - 57% serve 0-10 hours per week and 34% serve 11-25 hours per week
• WM team members - 75% serve 0-10 hours per week and 22% serve 11-20 hours per week
• Pastor's wives - 62% serve 0-10 hours per week and 28% serve 11-20 hours per week
• Staff who oversee WM - 70% serve 0-10 hours per week and 9% serve 31+ hours per week
• Authors, speakers, and musicians - 50% serve 0- 10 hours per week and 34% serve 11-15 hours per week
• Parachurch staff member - 50% serve 0-15 hours per week, 33% serve 16-20 hours per week and 17% serve 40+ hours per week
• Provider of resources - 86% serve 0-10 hours per week

What are the best times to offer Bible studies for your women?

• Wednesday Evening 33.7%
• Tuesday Evening 30.6%
• Tuesday Morning 25.7%
• Thursday Evening 25%
• Monday Evening 20.5%

Also... several of you sent emails to tell us about how you are incorporating Bible Studies into Sunday School. This is a great way to include women who cannot attend studies during the week. We appreciate your sharing!

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Fresh Brewed Faith Conference

The 2008 WomensMinistry.Net Directory is now accepting listings and renewals.

This fun event idea is focused on reaching out to the older women in your church and was sent to us by Donna Fox.

Our sleepover was held in a home and our theme was "Storybook Island." Ladies were asked to come up with a skit complete with props, music, and costume. They were allowed to pick off of a list we provided or they could use their own idea. (WM.NET note: if you have a large group and will not have time for everyone to do their own skit, have a sign-up sheet to limit the number of participants or group the women into teams. We also think this would be a fun kick-off event at a retreat.)

We started the evening with our version of a talent contest where each woman shared her skit. We called it "Country Idol." We dressed our judges up and gave them names like "Golden Candi," "Crystal Lace," and "Pearly Diamond." They were introduced and they strutted their stuff one by one to the judging seats.

Following the skits, we played a couple of games and then a devotion was shared on "What Type of Coffee are You?"

The night was enjoyed by everyone including our two 80+ ladies who, by the way, were both judges.

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.

Still not sure?

See the Latest Issue here.

I have been reading through a lot of new Bible Studies and here are two of my current favorites.

3:16: A Study for Small Groups by Max Lucado

This study is an in depth look at a Bible verse that almost everyone I know can quote... John 3:16. It is the story of the scarlet thread of redemption that is found throughout the entire Bible and wrapped up in this one hope-filled verse. There is nothing you can possess that is greater than God's gift of eternal life.

I have to admit that I have really enjoyed all of Max Lucado's books, but really liked that this study made me stop and take a long, detailed look at this very familiar verse.

There are DVDs available to use with this study, and it would work well in a Sunday School format.

Premium Roast With Ruth by Sandra Glahn

This is one of the newest in a series called Coffee Cup Bible Studies by this author. I love coffee, and the titles in this series always make me smile; and when I open them up, I find myself "filled to the brim" with the truth of the Scriptures. This exploration of the story of Ruth was fun, insightful and filled with great application. The text is included in the study book, making it easy to take with you on the road or to work.

There are two really practical things I love about this series. First they are spiral bound. I usually run out to our local office store and have my study books spiral bound because I am ROUGH on them. I really like the fact that someone has already done that for me. Secondly, each daily section is short and easy to work through, making this a great study to use for devotions or in a small group at lunchtime.

Enjoy!

In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor

Someone Has to Win... Why Not You!

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We randomly select the winner from those that click through the featured sponsor links in last week's issue.
This week's winner is...fntoflivingwater@yah...

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