strong women of God

It's 3 am and I'm wide awake.

It's been mostly overcast with rain the last few days or so with a few bits of sunshine peeking through during the day and it's breezy tonight. Or, maybe I should say it's breezy this morning? I was roused around by the gentle sound of my wind chimes moving just enough to make music in the darkness from my back porch--and it was just enough music to capture me and brush away the 'sleepy,' but I don't mind because I have something good to think about.

There's a new project on the horizon and I'm excited about getting started with it. The idea to begin a church magazine/newsletter was presented to me by one of the women at our church and I liked the idea and wanted to be a part of it. I mentioned it to someone else and got an enthusiastic response, too. We mentioned it to a few more women and each one has jumped on board with great ideas to add to the mix. We shared our vision with our pastor and he gave us the go ahead. Not only did he give us the go ahead, he encouraged us to run with it. At this point it's kind of like the old commercial, "if I tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and THEY tell two friends..." I'm loving the inspiration and creativity being shared by the women of our church.

It's been a while since I have been 'inspired' by a project and I've missed the excitement. I've missed the focus of doing a specific, good thing well. With the other women who are also working on this publication it feels so do-able and the great thing about this project is that it's not just about a handful of women putting out a magazine. Our goal is to draw all of our church women together so we can get to know one another better and share some ideas and wisdom along the way.

We want to include as many of our women as possible and make it easier for us all to be those written about in Titus 2:3 Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander one another or be heavy drinkers. Instead they should teach others what is good. Another translation says to "help the older women to teach the younger women good things."

If an older sister shares her wisdom with me, she's teaching a younger woman good things. If a twenty-something young mother shares her life experience with a teen girl, she's teaching younger women good things. It's not really about age at all. It's about becoming a cohesive group of women helping each other become strong women of God.

We have an abundance of wealth in our congregation in our women. We have jewels with much talent and knowledge and wisdom and I'm loving finding out about 'who does what' well! I have a friend who lives by the phrase, "Looking forward," and it is a realistic, relevant way to live for Christ. For the Christian, life is all about looking forward in Jesus so I'm borrowing it from her. It's a new day and I am also looking forward.

Lord, you are so good to us. You are the Creator. Your steadfast love never ceases and your mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. You give us fresh opportunities to 'bloom where we are planted.' Thank you so much for good, fun things to do for you. I love you with my whole heart.

Suz