The “Church Lady,” the “Good Christian Woman,” and You

Traci and I have yet to have one normal conversation, and I love her for that. She is on my team of women, and sometimes she wonders why God has put her there. But I know why.

Recently, Traci and I had the opportunity to share one of our conversations with some young married women. You see, I thought they might be able to relate to some of Traci's "issues" or "hang ups."

Who do you think of as being in women's ministry? What kind of woman? What does she look like? Do you fit that description? I didn't. I don't. When I was growing up there was a rather big-boned, tall woman with big hair and big shoulder pads who carried a big Bible at church who was the "church lady" to me. If I ever had a question about the Bible, she must have been an authority on it. Why else would she carry around such a big Bible? For Traci, her "good Christian lady" wore sensible shoes and would never be seen in a red convertible. Yes, Traci drives a red convertible and wears blingy flip flops to church. During our conversation with these young women, I asked if these kind of women wore an under-wire or push-up, Traci assured me that even if these women did wear one, they most certainly wouldn't discuss it in public! But truth is underwear is a necessity.

Everyone has an excuse as to why they can't serve. My daddy used to tell me that excuses are like belly buttons, everyone has one (although I'm not sure about Adam and Eve). Some women don't feel like they should lead or serve because of their pasts or that they will be judged for it. When God looks at His daughters, He doesn't see your past. He sees a trail of Christ's blood – that's it. If you have a past that you are embarrassed by for whatever reason – abortion, addiction, abuse…name your poison – He wants to liberate you from it. He wants you to deal with it, so He can use your testimony to encourage and help the next woman going down that similar path. Satan wants to keep you bound to it and make it a stumbling block. Which do you prefer – a stumbling block or a stepping block?

You are who God wants to use. Are you willing? Do you have the courage and strength to commit to Him? I'd love to talk to you about it. Please feel free to email me or call me.

On June 12^th, we will be having a GNO (Girls Night Out) at the Heart of Hope Maternity Home from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you can organize, stencil or garden, great! If you can pray, great! There will be a place for you to serve after we have a potluck picnic at HOH. I look forward to seeing your smiling faces. If you are new to the church, please call me at 464-3679, and I will make sure you are connected with a lady who can introduce you to others. We want you to feel comfortable about getting involved, so there's no excuses. You are who we need in the trenches with us as we fellowship, have fun and serve.

JUNE EVENTS

I SURVIVED!
I need a t-shirt with that on it. I'd wear it every year at the end of school. May and December are the most hectic, crazy times of the year. Is it just me, or is anyone else out there feeling this?

After you have a moment to catch your breath, I want to give you a few things for you to look forward to for YOU!

Sunday, May 22^nd, the Calvary Women Connect team will be hosting a breakfast for the young married women in room B-107 starting at 9:45 AM. All you have to do is show up! We want this group of young ladies to know who is on the team and to get your feedback and ideas about the things God has placed on your heart for service. I cannot wait! Serving isn't just for "church ladies," don't ya know.

June 12^th we are having a potluck picnic at Heart of Hope from 5- 7 PM. We will be taking canned goods and pantry items, and they will have areas of service for us. They have a prayer room, and I know they have some stenciling that needs to be done. I'm sure we can find something for you to help with, so please come. More information will be sent out in the weeks to come.

June 16, 17, and 18^th – LEARN TO SEW!!!!! If you would like to learn to sew, a couple of the ladies at church have agreed to teach for FREEEEEE!!!!!!! This is a beginner's class for young women who have just graduated high school to the mature women. Come learn a skill that will be an asset for you, your family and community.

If you have any questions, please send me (Kristy Timmons Mullins) a message on Facebook or call me at (318) 464-3679.

GNO – GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!! You don’t want to miss.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

MANDISA AND ANITA RENFROE

When: May 20^th 7:00 PM. If you are interested in meeting around 5 PM for supper, please let me know.

Tickets are $25. We will be taking money and reservations to order tickets. We will order the tickets on May 9^th. If we have more than 10, we may be able to get a reduced price.

 Where: FBC Bossier City

 If you want to come, but don't know anyone, please let me know. We want you to come and be a part of the Calvary Women Connect.

HEART OF HOPE MATERNITY HOME

 Please bring canned goods and pantry items to the foyer of the church for the Heart of Hope Maternity Home. There are baskets set up to hold these items.

 

GNO -- Girls Night Out

GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

Sunday from 6 PM - 8 PM at Mrs. Dinah's. We are going to have a mash potato bar! If you can bring some goodies for the potatoes, a salad or dessert that would be great.

Our mission this semester is the Heart of Hope Maternity Home. If you can bring a pantry item or canned food for this ministry, I know they would appreciate it.

So, get your girlfriends. Pile into the car, and come on! Time to eat, fellowship and laugh.

If you don't know anyone and want to come, let me know (464-2679).

Look forward to seeing you,

Kristy Mullins

Sweet Stars -- The RESULTS

Our First Sweet Stars in February included:

   Friends, fellowship and fun

Whoever came thinking they didn't know anyone, left with new friends.

Whoever came needing to laugh, left with a smile on her face.

And best of all, they learned a new skill to share with others, and the cupcakes were a hit at church the next day. Every single cupcake sold with all the proceeds going to the Heart of Hope Maternity Home.

Great job, ladies! And thanks to Kim Walker, Holly Tunstall and Holly McKinney for sharing their talents with us.

Thank you Mary Beth, Mary Rimmer and Shawn Kelly for opening your homes for us to use as a labratory of sorts.

SECOND ROUND OF SWEET STARS IN APRIL  -- The Cupcake House

We all have to start somewhere. Sometimes the basics are challenging, but we took our time and learned.

 



Women of all ages. Strangers at first are strangers no more.





Women who were strangers are stranger no more.
 
Laughing
 
Talking
 
Learning

And this is the proof of our time together and what we learned.

THEN THERE WAS THE CAKE HOUSE...ENUF SAID. Right ladies?

Holly taught the ladies that it's not so important that the cakes be perfect. It's the fellowship and laughter that is the key.



From elbows in the cakes to the tips of the icing bags. Icing on the floor. Icing on the table. Some icing made it on the cakes too. The MAJOR lesson learned today -- if you have a whole in your cake, cover it with a flower!

What a fun group of women. What a sweet time of fellowship.

Thanks to Holly Tunstall and Holly McKinney for teaching and to Donna Melancon and Debbie Lohnes for opening your homes.

SWEET STARS FOR ALL OF THE WOMEN OF CALVARY

Mark your calendars: April 2
Time: 3:00 - 5:00 PM

WHO: Women of all ages and
girls from third grade on up
with their moms

WHAT: Learn how to be the Ace of Cupcakes, how to be a Sweet Start of Calvary

WHY: Why not? Come and fellowship, learn a skill, laugh
and have fun.

We will be selling the goodies on Sunday morning with all the proceeds going to the Heart of Hope Maternity Home.

There's one catch -- YOU HAVE TO REGISTER! It's free. You just have to bring your undecorated cupcakes, but we need to know you are interested, so we can make assign you to a host home.

You don't want to be left out of the fun. Bring your daughter. Bring your girlfriend. Bring your mom. Bring your coworker. Just come!

If you have any questions, please call me. Kristy Mullins 464-3679

A Woman With a Scandal...

Who doesn't love a good scandal? 

Okay, so I know that the good Baptist girl in us probably won't be raising our hands and admitting to this... but the world loves a good scandal.  Don't believe me?  Just try checking out at the grocery store or going Yahoo.com or watching the news- scandal sells.  The world loves to build a person up, just to tear that person down.  Satan loves it, too.  I am speaking from personal experience.  Do you know the feeling?

My early 20's played out like something a reality show on MTV.  In other words- SCANDAL.  Satan was having a hay-day with me, whispering words of pride into my ears... building me up for the fall that would inevitably happen.  Too bad for him, I fell right into the arms of my Savior and I haven't looked back since.

You see, once I picked up my Bible I began to read about women like myself- scandalous women.  I only meant to share one with you today, but there are just too many to choose from.  (Pretty wild, huh?)

The book of Matthew in the Bible included five women in the genealogy of Christ. This is notable since it was not customary for Jews to include women in their records. Even more remarkable is the fact that Matthew included some scandalous women.

The descriptions of these women could easily be the headline for a tabloid magazine-

Tamar (Genesis 38:6-30)- Diguised herself as a prostitute, seduced her Father-in-Law and bore his child.
Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24)- A prostitue who risked her life to hide spies.
Ruth (The Book of Ruth)- A foriegner, so desperate for a husband that she is willing to sleep at his feet.
Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-27)- Commits adultary with the King, who then has her husband murdered.
Mary (Matthew 1:30-36)- A virgin who claims to be pregnant with the Messiah.

All of these women were used by specifially by God for His glory, despite the circumstances.  He can do the same for you.  All He asks is that you repent from your sin and follow Him.  He can give you beauty for your ashes.

My life verse is-

 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20


Don't let your past keep you from your future.  God wants to use YOU!!!  Despite all of the scandal.

I'll close with another video.  The song is 'I Am New' by Jason Gray.  It's my anthem.  I hope it encourages you as much as it has me.