Enduring Influence

Hi Ladies,

I remember reading this article and wanted to share it with you. It's from our National Women's Ministries website. Kerry Clarensau is our new National Women's Ministries Director. Remember to pray for her as she leads our fellowship in this new season.

Today I met a precious young woman that was very much pregnant. She was sharing how she had been expecting twins, but because of a horrible auto accident at 20 weeks due to a drunken driver she lost one of them. My heart went out to her and I felt led to tell her that I would pray for her and have our church pray as well. She'll be giving birth in just a few weeks and has complications that I could relate to from my first pregnancy. I tried to encourage and give her hope. Today was a divine appointment for us to meet. He really does direct our steps.

You never know how God wants to use you in your place of influence. I pray this will speak to your heart as well.

Love & Hugs,
LaDonna


Enduring Influence

Kerry Clarensau

I want to challenge you to think of the people who have made an impact on your life. All of us are influenced by the people we encounter. Some play a significant role in our lives for decades, but others we encounter for a very brief time and yet they leave a lasting impression.

Recently I was flying home from a long weekend trip. Honestly, I was hoping to catch up on my sleep. But when I boarded the plane, the man sitting next to me asked if I would trade my seat with his wife so they could sit next to one another. When I got to my new seat, a young woman was sitting there next to the window. Even before we pulled away from the gate she started a conversation and over the next 2 ½ hours, she told me about her struggling marriage and asked me question after question. By the time we landed, she recounted the things from our conversation that were an encouragement to her. Through tears, she told me God seated us together and thanked me for talking with her. It was fun to tell her how my original seat was several rows behind her. God truly made a way for a brief moment in time together.

When I look closely at the life of Christ, I see Him investing in individuals with brief impact moments—like His conversation with the woman at the well, or eating dinner with sinners at Matthew’s house. But I also see Him investing significant amounts of time in the twelve. Walking and talking with them every day. Teaching and guiding them.

Have you ever considered how the gospel was shared from those individuals who walked with Christ through the centuries to you and me? Individuals had to intentionally invest in others—sharing life-changing truth. I’m so thankful for those who decades ago shared the good news with my grandparents, allowing my parents to be raised in Christian homes.

I believe God strategically places people in our journey to reveal His love, wisdom, and help. When I was a young adult, Peggy Musgrove—a godly woman—saw leadership abilities in me. Abilities I never knew existed. She challenged me with opportunities that stretched and developed my skills. Peggy was such a beautiful example of a woman in leadership, I’ve actually found myself asking, “What would Peggy do?”

Peggy told me she asked the Lord for 12 women to influence. Following the pattern of Jesus, she wanted to intentionally invest in 12 women. I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today without her loving influence. While Peggy’s time in formal leadership has come to a close, her influence lives on in so many.

I am challenged by Peggy to think about the 12 women I can invest significant time with—just living life and sharing His truth in conversation and example. I want my life to be one of influence. I believe God directs our paths to intersect with others—some for a season, but others for a lifetime. For instance, my daughter-in-law, Katie, and my granddaughter, Molly—I want to invest in their lives as long as I live.

Will you make the same choices Peggy made and intentionally invest in 12? Will you look for moments each day to intentionally invest in someone? Even though our time on this earth is so brief, our influence can live on for generations.


KERRY CLARENSAU is director of the National Women's Department.

Behind The Scenes January 12, 2011 — by David C. McCasland

Okay, I'm trying to catch up on my bible reading and a little behind....already in this new year! I read this today and just loved it! I'm a musician and director of our music department at our church. Sometimes dealing with sound men can be a challenge. In fact, we've clashed and butted heads on an occasion or two. I loved this entry for yesterday, Jan 12th.

I'm sure you've been in church and heard some awful sound come from the sound system and everyone looks back at the guys running sound. It is a thankless job at times. I do try to remember to thank them for doing an excellent job every week.

Hope you enjoy this entry and next time you see your sound men....thank them for a job well done. They could probably use the encouragement once in awhile!

Hugs,

LaDonna

Recently I attended a memorial service for a gifted musician whose life had touched many people. The tribute to this Christian woman included video and audio clips, photos, instrumentalists, and speakers. After everyone had left the church, I stopped to thank the technicians whose flawless work at the control board had contributed so much to this moving tribute. “No one noticed what you did,” I told them. “That’s the way we like it,” they replied.

In Matthew 6, Jesus told His disciples to give (vv.1-4), pray (vv.5-6), and fast (vv.16-18) in order to please God, not to gain praise from people. “When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place” (v.6). Whether giving, praying, or fasting, Jesus said, “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (vv.4,6,18).

Something within us makes us want to be seen and recognized for our good deeds. While there’s nothing wrong with encouragement and appreciation, a desire for praise can undermine our service because it shifts the focus from others to ourselves. When there is no public “thank you,” we may feel slighted. But even when we serve God in secret, He sees it all.

The service that we do for God
May go unpraised by men;
But when we stand before the Lord,
He will reward us then. —Sper
It is better to earn recognition without getting it than to get recognition without earning it.

Inspire Women's Conference 2011

Dear Ladies,

My dear friend, Sandy Phinazee is hosting an event in February 2011 at the Florida Mall Hotel in Orlando. She has many speakers lined up, Marsha Woolley being one of them!

I encourage you to take advantage of this powerful weekend. You won't be disappointed!

Please check out the link below for further information.


Hugs,
LaDonna

http://www.inspireconference.org

Happy New Year!

Dear Friends,

I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year! I came across this scripture today and it really has ministered to me and encouraged me. I pray it will do the same for you.

That's why we live with such good cheer.You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. II Corinthians 5:6 (The Message Bible).

Hugs,

LaDonna Jones