Tell Me about the Godly Person Who Out Lived Their Life by Investing in You

Everyone has been touched by someone who unknowingly “out lived their life” by influencing you in a positive, godly way. I would love to hear about those people. Write me and tell me about them. What made them special? How did their life affect yours? How did your life change because of what they did? SERIOUSLY, WRITE ME!

Personally, I think of women like Phyllis Copp, Linda Chapman, Mrs. Powell, Teri Cupples Foti – all these women saw something in me that I could not. They were my Sunday school teachers, encouragers, and mentors. I remember teaching my peers in Mrs. Powell’s class. I remember spending time with Phyllis Copp. Mrs. Linda encouraged me and still does giving me words of wisdom. Teri was a teacher, but she also discipled me.

The people that brought about change in your life, did they have special powers? Did they have special training? Were they perfect? Could they leap over buildings in one bound, stop a speeding bullet, etc? Get the picture? The women I mentioned weren’t seminarians. They hadn’t sat at the feet of Beth Moore, but they had sat at the feet of Jesus. They obeyed where He led them. They had courage to go outside their comfort zones to allow this high-strung, strong-willed girl “teach” a Sunday school lesson.

Now think about the legacy you are leaving. Are you even leaving one? You are never too young to invest in the life of another by ministering and serving them in the name of Jesus Christ.

There are many excuses people will use as to why they cannot.

1. LACK OF ABILITY – Been here, tried that…not a good defense (just so you know). Satan used to tell me I couldn’t lead and minister because I am uneducated in women’s ministry. I couldn’t lead because I wasn’t equipped. Let’s face it; my job investigating insurance fraud doesn’t exactly lead itself to ministry. BUT I heard a quote that stuck with me, “God doesn’t always call the qualified, but He always qualifies those He calls.”

In Mark 2, a man could have let his inability, his deficiency keep him from Jesus, but instead, his deficiency is what led not only himself but FOUR OTHER MEN to meet Jesus. You see the man was a paralytic. He couldn’t have walked to see Jesus even if he had wanted to. Instead, four men carried him to meet Jesus, carried him up the stairs to the roof, removed tiles and thatching and then lowered him to Jesus. God used a man’s inability to walk to bring four men to see Jesus, to improve their faith and to witness a miracle. Not only the four men but the crowd who were present that day saw the power of God in the form of a miracle in the life of this man.

Yeah, lack of ability is not a good defense to not serving.

2. MY HISTORY – If you have never heard my friend Sunni teach on the women in the Bible, you need to. She has a passion for this subject, and you can see it ignite in her as she talks about the Samaritan woman at the well talking to Jesus.

You see, the Jewish men often thought it was a waste of time to speak with women, much less a Samaritan woman with her reputation. This just goes to show that man’s thoughts are not the same as God’s because Jesus had a conversation with the Samaritan woman. The Jews hated the Samaritans. They hated the Samaritans because they were part Jews and part Jewish but following their own rules. The Jews thought the Samaritans were filthy and vile. Jesus saw a woman – a woman with a past who needed everlasting life.

What was this woman’s legacy? This woman with a past brought the town to meet Jesus, and isn’t that what we are supposed to be about – BRINGING PEOPLE TO JESUS?

Once you have asked Jesus into your heart, God no longer sees every sin you’ve committed. He sees a trail of blood from the cross covering every transgression. So, be like the Samaritan woman at the well and bring those you have known from your past to meet the Jesus in your present.

3. MY FINANCES: God does not consist in the constraints of time nor is he bound to work within our fiscal means. His math does not conform to the computations that mathematical scholars utilize in every day existence.

• 2 Peter 3:8 “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years”

• Mark 6:30-39: 5 loaves + 2 fish = 5000 men completely satisfied

Be faithful and obedient with what He has given to you, and let Him work out the rest whether it is financially, physically, or time-wise.

There is no excuse that God hasn’t already overcome. The question is, “Are you willing to lay down your excuses to follow God?”

Here’s the thing, if you don’t get involved, you’re going to kick yourself for missing it. I don’t want you to do that.

Get informed. Come serve Wednesday night.

LEGACY

It's Saturday morning, and I sat in a room with fifteen women who were laughing and talking and enjoying a nice brunch. Each of these women were invited to the brunch by my mom because she wanted to celebrate spring's arrival. As each woman arrived, she made her way around the room giving a hug to each of the other ladies whether she knew her or not. This is how they introduced themselves. Some of these women knew my mom from high school, some from prior women's ministry teams mom had led; some are family and friends she had picked up along the way. But as I sat there I looked as each of these beautiful, godly women and realized I am their legacy.

Mrs. Virginia is the one who got my mom into women's ministry in the first place which is why I was exposed to it. This exposure was a way God prepared my heart for when it was my turn to lead in women's ministry. There were women from the team my mom lead many years ago. There was, of course, the "Sister Circle" – a group of women who have been friends for years and know how valuable true friendship is and makes time for it. There were women there who had prayed for me to become a mom. There were women who had known me from my childhood, and there were women who God put into my life through the life of my mom for specific reasons – some reasons I know, and some I don't. This group of women is just a few who have invested in my life to make it such a rich tapestry, hopefully pleasing to my God. There are many more.

Normally when I think of legacy, I think of what am I leaving my children, but today, I began to think of myself as being the legacy of these women who are ahead of me. Women who have endured hardships, difficulties, health issues, marital issues, child rearing issues, and here they sit, laughing, telling stories, and saying how good God is. These women are my heritage, and I am their legacy. Thank you, ladies. I love ya'll.

I posted this on my personal blog back in March of this year after Mrs. Lavahn had reviewed the book Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado with our women's ministry team. Little did I know that our church this summer would be going through this book and Bible study together. I just love how God works!

After looking at this post and reading part of Out Live Your Life, I wonder whose life am I impacting? How is God using me? How does God want to use me? How does God want me to serve?

I cannot tell you how excited I am that this is the path our church is on. God has laid this on my heart for some time. It's one of the reasons that anything the women do in our church we have wanted it to have some element of missions or ministry. It's why last fall we made baby blankets to donate to the CPC and had the silent auction at the Christmas Tea. It's why this spring we have been collecting food and pantry items for the Heart of Hope Maternity Home and why we are going to the Heart of Hope Maternity Home on June 12 for a Girl's Night Out – to do service, to minister, to love on others. We are to be the hands and feet of Christ. It has been a step-by-step process to work on getting the women outside the walls of this church, and it makes me so stinkin' excited! Makes me wanna shout!

If you haven't purchased your book Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado, they will be on sell in the sanctuary Sunday morning. But if you read it, you are responsible for what you learn. You will be responsible for following where God leads you to serve, and I can't wait to see where that is and to hear from you where He's leading you. SOOOO, please write to me. Tell me what God is laying on your heart and what you are doing to follow. WOOHOO! God is so good.

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.