Rise Above it

The year was 1964 a nine-year-old girl from Columbia, South America wrote a letter. She placed it in an envelope but put no stamp and even worse she never put an address, she did, however, write something on the envelope. Miraculously five days later the letter arrived at 28 Hyde Park Gate, London. A secretary opened it and handed it to a ninety-year-old man, who smiled. The envelope read, “To the greatest man in the world.” 

The ninety-year-old man was none other than Winston Churchill! But what most people don’t know is the backend of the story.

Winston’s father was Sir Randolph Churchill, he thoroughly disliked his son, considered him mentally unfit, sent him at an early age to boarding school and never once visited him. Young Winston would write letters begging his father to come, but he never did. At the time it was not known but later discovered that his father had a brain disease that affected his judgment. Upon finishing school, Winston’s father told him to join the army because he was too stupid to do anything else.

In spite of all this Winston Churchill rose above it! He could have filled his heart with bitterness and hate, but instead, he named his son after his father. Just like the story of the man in Luke 6:6-10 who had a withered hand, instead of Jesus allowing him to feel self-pity for his condition he told him to Get up and Stand up! He told him to rise above it.

Download my series on “I Dare You” it will fill you with inspiration and determination to go forward and to Rise Above It!

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

Why the Church Needs to Stop Silencing Women's Prophetic Voices

Women play a vital role in the Bible, in the home, in the world and in the church. Jesus, we know, had twelve main male disciples (Luke 9:1) plus at least 70 part-time disciples (Luke 10:1). In addition to this group of mostly men, there were also  "Some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who supported Him with their possessions" (Luke 8:1-3). Jesus had many female followers as He preached in various villages who supported His ministry monetarily and otherwise.

When Jesus was arrested, the male disciples forsook Him fearing they too would be crucified. Only John and a few courageous women followed Jesus to the bitter end of His torture and death. "There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome. They also had followed Him and had ministered to Him when He was in Galilee. And many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem were there" (Mark 15:40-41).

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first (Mark 16:9). She became the first female evangelist to proclaim the Easter message. Then He appeared to another group of women who notified the male disciples who were still in hiding (Matt. 28:8-10). After Jesus' ascension, several women were present in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost who were filled with the Holy Spirit along with the male disciples (Acts 1:14). This was the birthday of the New Testament church in which women would play a key role.

One major and needed change the church world has experienced is the rise of women to greater roles of ministry. It is common now for women to hold positions such as worship leaders, Bible teachers, ushers, missionaries, evangelists, children's directors and even associate and lead pastors. This, I believe, is the ongoing fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, "And it will be that, afterwards, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; then your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28). Peter, in his powerful Pentecost sermon, quoted this prophecy and continued, "Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:18). Notice it wasn't just the men doing the prophesying; it was both men and women. To prophesy doesn't only mean to foretell the future; it also means to forthtell or proclaim the truth of God's Word (i.e. to preach, teach, exhort, witness or testify—1 Cor. 14:3).

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Consider the prominent women in the New Testament who filled major ministry roles:

• Anna: Mary and Joseph encountered this prophetess in the temple, who spoke prophetic words over baby Jesus (Luke 2:36-38).
• Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Mary was among the 120 in the upper room on Pentecost (Acts 1:14). What an impact she must have had as she shared stories about Christ from her unique perspective.

• Mary Magdalene: Catholics celebrate her as a saint; Protestants consider her a heroine of the faith. Church tradition claims she continued to be a bold witness for Christ, leading many idolaters to salvation then retiring to a life of seclusion after years of public preaching.

• Other Women: An unnamed, unnumbered group of women were among the 120 on the Day of Pentecost who were empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel (Acts 1:8, 14).
• Mary, Barnabas' Sister: Also the mother of John Mark, author of the Gospel of Mark, who hosted prayer meetings in her house (Ac. 12:12, Col. 4:10).
• Lydia: This prosperous businesswoman, a seller of purple cloth, opened her heart, house and purse to support Paul's ministry as a leader in the Philippian church (Acts 16:13-16).
• Priscilla: This dynamic lady assisted Paul's ministry in Corinth and Ephesus and was a spiritual leader with her husband, Aquila, of the church that met in their house. Tentmakers like Paul, they enlightened Apollos, a powerful preacher, in the deeper things of God (Acts 18:1-3, 24-26; Rom. 16:3-4; 1 Cor. 16:19).
• Philip's Four Daughters: Philip preached in several cities then settled in Caesarea (Ac. 8:40) where he continued in ministry with his daughters' assistance. Not much is known about them except they were all unmarried virgins and prophesied (Ac. 21:8-9). The verb tense indicates that they prophesied regularly or habitually, and they had a visible and vocal role in ministry not just behind the scenes.

• Phebe: Paul recognized her as a deaconess using the Greek word diakonos which is translated "minister," "servant" or "deacon" (Rom. 16:1). Paul used the same term to characterize his own ministry and that of Apollos and Timothy (1 Cor. 3:5, 1 Thess. 3:2).

• Junia: Paul commended Andronicus and Junia, probably a husband and wife team, as being outstanding among the apostles (Rom. 16:7).

• Lois and Eunice: Timothy's godly grandmother and mother trained him, a future associate of Paul and Bishop of Ephesus, with a rich spiritual heritage (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15).

• Apphia: Probably Philemon's wife, she apparently assisted in the Colossian church that met in their house (Philem. 2).

The point is that God uses women in mighty ways too. Yes, I'm fully aware of what Paul wrote about women being "silent in the church" (1 Cor. 14:33-35, 1 Tim. 2:11-12). But notice he didn't write that to every church as a blanket statement. He wrote it specifically to the churches in Corinth and Ephesus, cities that had extreme feminist cults. Corinth was home to the Temple of Aphrodite which featured over 1,000 priestesses (prostitutes) who engaged in vile pagan worship. Ephesians worshipped the Roman goddess Diana (Acts 19:24-41). Both corrupt cultures tried to dominate men which seeped into the churches causing confusion in worship services. Furthermore, in those days, women were often illiterate and uneducated. So, Paul was addressing specific problems in those churches to minimize chaos and maximize ministry.

Consider this, how could Philip's four daughters prophesy if they had to keep silent? How can our daughters prophesy today if they aren't allowed to speak in the church? We are living in the last days and God is still pouring out His Spirit on ALL flesh. Our sons and daughters can, should and will prophesy if given the freedom. Christ has millions of female followers worldwide, and He is raising up more lady leaders in this hour—anointing and appointing women into every area of ministry.

- Ben Godwin is the author of four books and pastors the Goodsprings Full Gospel Church. To read more articles, visit his website at bengodwin.org and take advantage of his 4-book bundle for $25.

The Law of Vitality

Two men were on a seven-mile walk, they were sad and tired, and because of that, the walk seemed slow. Most of our physical energy or lack of it is rooted in our emotional center. When our thoughts change from sadness to joy, our emotions and energy levels go up. These two men were experiencing a lack of energy and vitality. Then something amazing happened! A third man showed up and began a conversation that affected their lives.

This story is found in Luke 24:13-35 and is called the Road to Emmaus. The third man was Jesus, as He began to reveal Himself to them their eyes were opened, and then it happened, they were so filled with vitality and energy that instead of resting from their trip, within the hour they walked seven miles back to tell others. They couldn’t wait!

How can we tap the law of vitality? A constant flow of energy develops when we hold to thoughts of hopefulness, confidence, positiveness, and goodwill. When our minds become dominated by thoughts of this character, a high level of vitality comes. God intended us to live with strength and energy. The entire universe is charged with it! Since energy is maintained consistently in the natural world, we must form the conclusion that God meant to do the same in each of our lives. Another great secret of having vitality is to learn to move at a proper pace.

God’s pace is unhurried. For us to do this, it’s essential that we remove the reins of our lives daily and allow Him to take control. The Bible says to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will direct our paths and crown our efforts with success. Take each day at a time without the regret of the past or the worry about tomorrow. Do what you need to do today with all your heart and your life will be filled with a new vitality. Remember, worry never empties tomorrow of its problems only today of its strength.

I would encourage you to download my series called, “Renewable Energy” a guarantee it will make a huge difference in your life.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

What Is the Motive of Your Heart?

Love is in the air. Or is it?

You may have heard that the Bible is a love letter from God to all people. And it is. There is a scarlet ribbon woven through the text from Genesis to Revelation.

When the focus of scripture is turned to the subject of love, much can be gleaned. Undoubtedly, the most infamous passage on love is John 3:16 – “God so loved that world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

You can see right away that LOVE means GIVING. God gave the world the gift of His only Son. Yet this generous gesture is largely misunderstood.

Today’s culture leans more toward “getting” than “giving.”

There’s another well-known passage about love from 1 Corinthians 13. It starts out by saying that you can have all knowledge, power, and faith, but without love none of it matters.

The majority would disagree.

Those things are the substance of life, right? Well, not according to the Apostle Paul. The first two characters of love are to be patient and kind. The next two remind us that love cannot include envy or boasting. In other words, love doesn’t covet what other people have, nor does it does allow for arrogance of what you do have.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…” Romans 12:3

And then the fifth characteristic of love is declared…

Love is not proud.

Pride is taking, not giving. It’s self-righteousness instead of selflessness. Pride is looking in a mirror and seeing perfection where many flaws exist.

Love, by nature, is humble and compassionate. God hates pride. It’s what causes every human heart to be separated from His.

“…apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Pride elevates us over the One who created us (Luke 14:11). And when we operate with a prideful mindset, our human relationships crumble and our spiritual connection to God is broken. The beauty is that a surrendered will crushes a proud heart.

Some people walk in pride because they are blinded by Satan, who deceives them into thinking it’s a “right” mentality. Others do it because it was modeled for them and they simply follow suit. Still, some do it for power and authority.

But even in this, it’s often done out of fear of not being in control.

Pride is a 5-letter word. Biblical numerology explains that 5 is the number of G-R-A-C-E.

Pride and grace cannot dwell together. One always dethrones the other. But, through God’s gift of grace, hearts of pride are converted.

“When pride comes, then comes dis-grace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

Grace + Humility = LOVE

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” James 4:6

Jesus himself said He came to serve, not to be served. He came to give, not get. Being the perfect example of humility, Jesus shows us that “U”-you always comes before “I”-me. And with pride, “I” is always in the middle.

What is love? Love is liberating. Love is joyful. Love is peaceful. Love unifies.

Pride is poison. It’s deceitful and dark. Pride divides.

Man, by nature, is full of pride and empty of love. Our human instinct is for self-gratification. Think of an infant or toddler…

Enough said.

If God would have His way, we outgrow the independent tendencies and learn to lean on His sufficiency. But if we make no change from our birth kingdom, our pride never dies.

“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Psalm 10:4

In order to love fully, we must experience the source of love – Jesus Christ. Love itself is not tangible, visible, or audible. But it IS the most powerful, life-changing attribute on the planet!

Consider this: both love and pride are gauged by motive. Where’s your focus: inward or outward? Self or others? Less or more? Wait or push? Silent or Boisterous? Last or first?

To sum it up, when Jesus is at the center of a relationship, LOVE is in control. If self dominates, a “cloud of the proud” settles in, obstructing your perspective.

It’s the presence of the sun that lifts the morning fog. And so it is with pride. The presence of the Son causes the foggy particles to dissolve.

Love is in the air only when God lives in the heart.

- Kelly Russell

She is a Payroll Analyst in the Finance Department at Christian Care Ministry. She serves with her husband, who is one of the pastors at Calvary Chapel Melbourne. Together their ministry focus is on small groups, marriage, and prayer.  

Christian BLACK PANTHER Actress Shared an Important Message About Identity on Live TV

Breakout actress Letitia Wright went from taking a break from acting, to become a Christian, to landing the biggest role she’s ever had. Wright plays the role of Shuri in Marvel’s new movie BLACK PANTHER, who is a technologically brilliant young woman and the younger sister of T’Challa/Black Panther, King of the fictional nation of Wakanda.

In an interview with the UK talk show This Morning, Wright shared that there was a point when acting needed to be put on hold. Without going into detail, she said, “I was going through a lot, a very difficult time in my life, and I just needed to take a break from acting, because I really idolized it.”

Idolizing a job, or a dream is a common societal problem. It can result in immense disappointment and depression when our entire identity is wrapped up in a job, which doesn’t offer real fulfillment, and can come and go.

The Marvel actress then said that after going off of acting, “I went on a journey to discover God, and my relationship with God, and I became a Christian.” She continued, “It just gave me so much love and light within myself. I felt secure, like I didn’t need validation from anyone else, from getting a part [in a movie].”

At 24 years-old, Wright has learned a spiritual truth that many will go their whole lives without realizing. Our worth and value isn’t in what we do, or how we do it. Our worth and value comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ, who resides in us and makes us whole. Once Wright realized she didn’t need a great movie part to be whole, God blessed her career in a fashion that reminds us of Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” On Twitter, Wright frequently shares her Christian faith by tweeting gospel songs and Bible verses.

Wright added that she’s centered in who she is, but she explained that even though she’s a Christian, she’s still not perfect. However, it sounds like she’s on the right track.

A successful year for Letitia Wright has only begun, since she’ll return in the role of Shuri in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and will also star in Steven Spielberg’s movie READY PLAYER ONE releasing in March.

-By Ben Kayser, Managing Editor with MovieGuide.org

A Beautiful Waste

I graduated college convinced: I would change the world for God. As a college student, I volunteered with a high school ministry, sharing the gospel with hardened-to-Christ teens. And I was all in.

The year I left college, I joined the high school ministry as full-time staff. I was on fire for God and ravenous to see what He could do. I judged others who were going to waste their 20’s on anything I deemed to be of lesser value. My 20’s would be focused on impacting lives for eternity.

The annual highlight of our ministry was the week we took a bus full of living-loud adolescents to camp. On the last night, those who had decided to follow Jesus were given the chance to stand up and announce this life shift. After camp, I came home to an even longer list of lives I wanted to influence. When teens are “on fire” for Jesus, their unchurched parents start showing up to church on Sunday, asking questions, and joining Bible studies. The life-stories fueled me. They validated my calling and my passion. They kept me in it.

Lives around me were changing, but my life had grown stagnant. I’d have dinner with a teen who’d just asked Jesus into her heart and find myself mindlessly repeating answers I’d said for years. I’d go home and carve out space to sit with God, except when I got there, time alone with Him felt awkward, like I was talking to a distant acquaintance. I didn’t know quite where to start.

I knew God was benevolently disposed toward me, but I’d always assumed His benevolence was also connected to my producing something for His kingdom. When I felt productive in ministry, it wasn’t hard to imagine that God had loving thoughts toward me or that He looked at me with warm affection. I had a harder time trying to imagine what He might be thinking about me during the hours of the day when I wasn’t doing anything tangible for Him.

I realized I had been driven to see lives change, but I also craved the validation I received when my life made a notable impact on someone else’s. Over time, the deep satisfaction I’d found in my work lessened. So I left the ministry I admired.

I took a break from telling others about Jesus and found a part-time job. For well into a year, I spent my afternoons amid bouquets of imported French lavender, handcrafted soaps, and Italian pottery at a boutique. Sometimes I banked no more than five transactions in a day. It was a life I swore I’d never have—unproductive. A colossal waste of my time, energy, and gifts.

But to the surprise of my heart, that quiet little storefront became a place where I met God. I brought my Bible to work and cracked it open behind the register. I had hours unplanned for one of the first times in my life. I talked through God’s Word with Him, and I did it slowly, absorbing who the person was within those stories. I discovered layers of God’s nature I hadn’t considered when I was barreling through life, when He was only a leader and a coach to me. Slowly, my desire to see and feel who He is within the pages of His Word prompted me to look at the lines on His face. He had a gentle loving expression. Toward me—who was doing nothing for Him.

In a year that appeared to be a waste by all my ministry productivity standards, I grew desperate to lock eyes with God and see His real expression toward me. Every ordinary minute of my day was slowly becoming an opportunity to encounter God’s unwavering gaze, this tenderness I’d not known so intimately before, when I was highly productive.

There are times when God tucks us away from the rest of the world. He might hide us in a difficult job or an unwelcomed circumstance. We feel misunderstood, like no one gets us. He might hide us in a crowd where we feel lost or unseen. Behind the front doors of our homes, changing diapers and burping babies. He does all this so that we might see another side of Him. He is a God who looks deeply and knowingly into us when no one else is looking or noticing. We come alive under his loving gaze.

I discovered that what was unseen, my roots buried beneath the surface, gave life to the trunk and branches I showed the world. I learned how to pour out my life at His feet, forsaking productivity. A beautiful waste of time.

-Sara Hagerty

Sara is a wife to Nate and a mother of six whose arms stretched wide across the expanse between the United States and Africa. After almost a decade of Christian life, she was introduced to pain and perplexity and, ultimately, intimacy with Jesus. God met her and moved her when life stopped working for her. And out of the overflow of this perplexity, came her writing on her blog and in her two books: Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World that Loves to Be Noticed (August 2017) and Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet (2014).

How Do you See You?

From the clothes you wear to the way you look, the profession you chose, the mate you select, the habits you acquire, the moral conduct you portray, were all influenced by the way you see yourself! What we believe about ourselves often imposes rigid and false limits on what we can accomplish. If you accept an idea from yourself, your teachers, parents, friends, or any other sources good or bad, and if you are convinced that, that idea is real, it has the power over you as the hypnotist’s words have over their subjects.

Most people dislike themselves; they wish they were taller, shorter, heavier, or thinner. They develop little confidence in themselves; plagued by persistent inner conflict, which siphons off energy, they get tired in themselves because they are tired of themselves. Yourself, well put! You’ll never get away from you, so if you don’t like you-you’ll be unhappy all your life because you can’t escape you! So to like you, you have to know you! The only way to know you is to let God introduce you to you. As this happens your opinion of yourself will improve until at last, you will enjoy living with yourself. It is of great practical value to learn to like yourself since you must spend so much time with yourself.

As you see yourself through God’s eyes, allow it to form a mental picture. Think regarding this, hold that image persistently, firmly in your consciousness.

1 Peter said, “We are partakers of His divine nature through His great and precious promises.” Marcus Aurelius said, “The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.” We can select the life coloration we desire.

We’ve only scratched the surface. If this is something you desire, download my series “How to Increase Your Influence” and see your life change.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

In Memoriam: Billy Graham

Dear Friend,

My father, Billy Graham, went into the presence of the Lord on February 21, 2018.

The Bible tells us in Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord … that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (NKJV).

Many have said that his death ends an era, but he would be the first to say that when God’s ambassadors die in Christ, the Lord raises up others, because the preaching of the Gospel will go forward until the end of the age. God’s blessing continues as He opens doors for the Gospel around the world. BGEA remains committed to preach the Word in season and out of season across the globe.

My siblings and I would appreciate your prayers in the days ahead as we honor a man who served the Lord with his life, loved his family, and was always grateful for God’s faithful people who supported him in the work of the ministry in Jesus’ Name.

As we lay to rest this very public ambassador, please pray with us that the testimony he leaves behind will touch many lives and point them to salvation in Jesus Christ. My father’s journey of faith on earth has ended. He has been reunited with my mother and has stepped into the eternal joy of Heaven in the presence of his Savior, in whom he placed his hope.

If you would like to know more about my father’s life, share a memory, or read public visitation details, please visit BillyGraham.org.

God bless you, and thank you for your prayers for our family and the staff of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham

Calling Forth the Modern-Day Deborah

The destiny of women has been contested since the fall in the Garden. (Genesis 3:15–16)  A prolonged struggle rages between the seed of woman giving birth to the family of God, and spiritual descendants of Satan which will end one day in victory when Jesus returns.

In a time of heightened attack on the sanctity of being created male or female, I am passionate about understanding God’s viewpoint of women and how He feels about us. In a mother’s womb, God literally created us as individuals, male or female. (Psalm 139:13–14) There’s a grand storyline developing in history which has a starring role for women.

God highlights the role of women in several defining points in the life of Jesus:

• Mary, the mother of Jesus: As a virgin, Mary gave birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. Ancient belief held that the male was the only source of life and that woman’s purpose was to carry the child and to give birth. Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton point out in their book, Why Not Women?, that Mary was the only human source for Jesus’ DNA (Luke 1:34–35).
• Women on the team: Several females were included in Jesus’ ministry team. (Luke 8:1–3)
• The woman at the well: Jesus was interested enough in the destiny of a woman caught in sin that He told her about her past. When she responded saying,  “I know a Messiah is coming,” He gave her the news that would change not only her life, but the whole village:  “I am He,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” (John 4:26)
• Mary of Bethany: Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume and wiped His feet with her hair before His death. (John 11:2; 12:3)
• Mary Magdalene: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. (John 20:14)

What are some things men and women can do today to value the destiny of women as Jesus did?

Godly womanhood is an honor, a pure and holy pursuit that drops a plumb line for how to step up as a woman without resorting to clenched fists, raging at society with hands on hips demanding our rights—nor succumbing to the silent tragedy of folding your hands in your lap and doing nothing all the while screaming in quiet desperation. Women are struggling to find their place.

An Apology
As a believing woman in leadership, I want to apologize to women who didn’t see a compelling picture from mothers in the faith of the ecstasy and extreme fulfillment of being a confident woman in God. For those who felt “less-than” and gave in to self-pity, even betraying their own identity and settling for a mediocre version of the woman they are called to be, I wish we had shown you something greater.

I’m sorry I didn’t pave the way as a modern-day Deborah, a woman secure enough in God’s leading to call a male military leader to do what God had called him to do, a powerful woman who mounted a horse to ride into battle when it was necessary, a woman who was a key leader bringing peace in her community. Have Christian women failed to live with passion and zeal because we didn’t think we could or should? It’s time to trade lackluster versions of leadership for a passionate pursuit of godly womanhood. It is time to be mobilized, becoming who God has invited us to be, doing what God has given us to do, for the harvest is here.

I want to apologize to those in my circles looking for an example of womanhood who didn’t see me living and leading in such a way they could find a highway with neon signs (or at the very least a trail of breadcrumbs) leading to Jesus—the one who positioned women in high places at strategic times in history; it was a woman overshadowed by the Holy Spirit who brought Jesus into the world, and it was a woman who met the resurrected Lord at the tomb. Women ministered with Jesus, Martha cooked for Jesus, and Mary lavished her affection on Him by pouring costly ointment over Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair. The love of Jesus truly sets a woman free to live and love with abandon. Oh, that this would be our testimony.

It is my desire that we change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the church, as well as in the marketplace, by passionately supporting Spirit-led women who buy and sell, have a voice at the leadership table, make tough decisions, rock the cradle, raise the evangelist, rise to global leadership levels. What glass ceiling?

Women, I urge you to embrace the opportunity to become a woman of beauty and substance, for God has created you in His image.

For the men, you have the privilege to honor and understand women made in God’s image.

My husband is an outdoorsman, a man’s man, and he loves and appreciates me as a woman. I have great respect and love for this man I married at 21. We grew up together in some ways, learning as we went, perhaps in a simpler time.

Rick embraces his manhood and honors me in my femininity. We allow each other the freedom to use our individual gifts. Rick is a strong person and has been used of God to run a business, teach children, and later teach prison inmates, impacting the lives of many. Yet he has no problem with a wife who is a visible leader and he securely cheers me on. Although he may appear to lead from the back of the room, he in fact leads by just walking in the door. Some men have been puzzled by our relationship and many have been challenged by his example to honor their wives as leaders. We don’t always get it exactly right, but we always come back to the table to talk things through and I find safety in his love and esteem for me as his wife who leads.

I am a successful business woman, an ordained minister, a wife to the Rick-man, and mother of two incredible women of God. But primarily I am a child of God who is a woman.

How can men honor women?
I’ve missed some opportunities because I am a woman. I’ve been talked over, passed over, and overlooked by the good ole’ boys at times. But I’m interestingly not bitter or halted by this because of a few key male influences in my life. My Dad was a man full of humility and grace who believed I could do anything God put in my heart to do. I entered college and the business world braced for the affronts sure to come from men because of the acceptance by my father and mentor, Herbert Low.

My husband has esteemed me since the day we met at a dance in the Student Union Building in college. His constant proclamations of love, undying devotion, and expressions of service, puzzling and provoking other men to reconsider the role of a man more often than not, show anyone within view that I am loved (and nobody better mess with Linda).  He’s a gentle giant some say; others call him a lion. I call him the Rick-man (aka hunka hunka burning love ;))

Pastoral leaders in my life like Scott McKay and Mike Bickle have honored me with invitations to lead in ministry settings. Scott McKay was the first man to ask me to speak from the platform and expressed confidence that I had something to say as a woman. Mike Bickle welcomed me to the leadership of The Joseph Co. at the International House of Prayer of Kansas City.

Men, when communicating with women, consider these suggestions:

• Hear us out without reframing our message in your own terms.
• Ask clarifying questions.
• Don’t patronize us or condescend; we are tougher than you think and can take the heat of a good debate rendered with honor.

How can a woman embrace her destiny when interacting with men?
As women, we do the world a favor when we step up to the plate with brains and hearts engaged. Rather than looking for special favors as women, let’s own who God has called us to be, bringing our creativity forth without sacrificing good process and emotional intelligence.

Basic communication tips for women that everyone will appreciate:

• Learn to talk in bullet points and avoid rabbit trails.
• State the action then the reason. Men like a clear target.
• Communicate objectively.

For most of my career I have been the only woman at a boardroom table of men and happily have not been keenly aware of the fact. That’s because I’ve embraced my calling and believe I just might have something to contribute. If I don’t speak up, we’ll never know.

At this stage it’s about getting the job done more than being a woman.

Let’s work together to be at our best and get the job done.

To receive complimentary resources (eBook, Bible Study, and Audio teaching) about how to grow as a modern-day Deborah, please visit: lindafields.org/deborah

- Linda Fields; Her humble upbringing as a preacher’s kid and her wealth of experience in business, training, and ministry to serve believers who are called to fulfill their mission in the marketplace. With True Tribe, a simple mentoring system designed to unlock and launch one’s next level, Linda helps train men and women to live out their spiritual destinies within their professions. As a woman, a wife, a mom, a glass-ceiling smasher, business owner, and coffee aficionado, Linda is at home in the boardroom, the classroom, and the prayer room doing life with Jesus, her mentor and friend, as they help others pursue their dreams.

Remember, Repent, Renew—The Remedy for a Burned-Out Believer

If you take a real assessment of your life and ministry today, how does it look?

Perhaps you haven’t seen the fruits of your labor that you’d hoped for or expected. Maybe you’re resentful of others around you who don’t seem to be carrying their own weight in the ministry. It could be that your team is great and you’re seeing a harvest, but you’ve been going nonstop as far back as you can remember and you’re just burned out.

>> Looking to grow your faith? Here are some ways to get started.

If you’re struggling, you can probably empathize a bit with the church in Ephesus, to whom God speaks in Revelation 2:1-7. The early believers there worked hard in the ministry, and they were good at it. They were tireless, discerning and persevering. Even in the face of hardships and persecution the church continued to serve those in need.

The problem was that they labored so hard in ministry that they lost their focus and the source of their motivation. The church had forsaken its first love. They were too wrapped up in the process of doing God’s work to make time for God Himself.

>> Read more on replenishing a burned-out soul.

We’re called to so much more, however, than just “staying busy for Jesus.” If this struggle is all too familiar in your life and ministry, look specifically at the first half of verse 5, which gives us three key steps to return to the correct path:

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
—Revelation 2:5a, ESV

First, believers in the church at Ephesus are commanded to remember back to when they had first encountered the Living God and were bursting with excitement. Just as marriages can become mundane if we forget that original passion and don’t make an effort to keep it burning, so it can be with God. We can go through the motions and do the work but not remember the desire we once had for Him.

Second, repent. It feels odd to say we need to repent for doing ministry, but according to the passage, it had reached the point where the people of the church were ministering with the wrong spirit and motivation. The issue was bad enough that God called them to repentance.

Finally, “do the things you did at first.” Or, as I would put it, renew your relationship with Him. Spend time in prayer and in the Bible. If we give God the best of our time, and focus that time on building our relationship with Him, I believe we will quickly remember and reconnect with our “first love.”

My friends, if you’re feeling burned out, it doesn’t have to be this way. Remember, repent, and renew. God will lead you and your ministry from there and use you in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.

- Will Graham