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PrayerGift Mondays: God’s Girls as Servant L.E.A.D.ers

July 11, 2011 in prayergifts for she speaks, servant leadership, womens ministry with 1 Comment

Something just dawned on me.

Since becoming a grown-up woman, I have never been a member of a church with a flourishing women’s ministry.

The church I attend now, The Heart of Mesa, seems to be taking small steps in the direction of a women’s ministry. For that, I’m grateful.

Women need community. We need to know our unique challenges really aren’t all that unique. Most women struggle with the same core needs: the need to feel loved, safe, and cherished, the need to have meaningful, healthy relationships, and the need for a friendship with Jesus Christ.

While we girls are complex with myriad circumstances, we are, truly, a sisterhood in the same big boat.
In a little under two weeks, women from all over the country will attend the She Speaks Conference Leadership Track because they take their calling to serve women very seriously. They know they can’t depend on their instincts, organization, and charm. Building a Christ-focused community of women takes power and wisdom straight from God’s hand because God’s creative hand made every, single woman.

As I pen this prayergift, my friends Wendy, Cynthia, Kristy, and Sandra are grinning at me in my mind. Four of my Table 11 sisters from last year’s She Speaks Confence, they are passionate about pointing women to Christ.

Those of you who are first-timers to She Speaks will understand the “Table 11″ reference soon enough. That was the table where we sat each day of the conference. Some of us knew each other already, and some of us became sisters ’round the table over sweet tea and scrumptious cuisine.

At Table 11, we laughed, chatted, and networked.

At Table 11, we cried, worshipped, and soaked in godly teaching.

I can’t wait to hear about what happens around those tables at the 2011 She Speaks Conference!

Now, without further delay, here is my prayer for my leadership track sisters.

Lord,

I’m so thankful You choose to let us be Your hands and feet. Today, I come to pray for a special group of women whom, I believe, You’ve called to be part of Your heart: women devoted to supporting, encouraging, and leading women to a vibrant relationship with You.

As my sisters prepare to head to the She Speaks Conference for the leadership track, I pray that You will:

Launch women’s ministries all over this world rooted in truth
Some of my sisters serve in established women’s ministries, and some are trailblazers. No matter where the ministries are right now, I pray You will dig down deep to make sure every root is firmly attached to truth. “Never take your word of truth from [their] mouths, for [they] have put [their] hope in [You].” (Psalm 119:43) 

And what is the truth for women?

Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11)

[You] comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (Isaiah 61:2-4)

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. (Psalm 68:5-6)

Equip them with practical ways to point women to Christ
Lord, my She Speaks sisters are headed to the conference to learn, and learn they will! By the time they leave Charlotte, their minds will be bursting with new ideas. I pray You will give each woman wisdom about which ideas to implement first. Give them the strength to not try to do too many things too quickly.

Show [them] the right path, O Lord; point out the road for [them] to follow. Lead [them] by your truth and teach [them], for you are the God who saves [them]. (Psalm 25:4-5)

Teach them [Your] decrees, and give them [Your] instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives [and their ministries]. (Exodus 18:20)

May the information they gain from She Speaks equip them to train other women “to commit  [themselves] wholeheartedly to [Your word]. [To] tie them to [their] hands and wear them on [their] foreheads as reminders. To teach them to [their] children. [To] be careful to obey all these commands [You've given]. [To] show love to [You] by walking in [Your] ways and holding tightly to [You].” (Deuteronomy 11:18-22)

Affirm their calling to encourage women to live free
Lord, there’s nothing the evil one wants more than to deceive Your children into believing they aren’t worthy of their callings. Relentless, his favorite tricks are shame and stirring up old sins, long forgiven. He loves to convince women that the wounds from their past exclude them from being used for Your glory in the present. Protect my sisters from these lies!

Assure them that “as [You were] with Moses, so [You] will be with [them]; [You] will never leave [them] nor forsake [them]. [If they are] careful to obey [You, they will] be successful wherever [they] go.” (Joshua 1:5-7)

Empower them “to lead a life worthy of [their] calling, for [they] have been called by God. [May they] always be humble and gentle, patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of [their] love. [May they] make every effort to keep [themselves] united in the Spirit, [bound] together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Develop in them a humble heart
Lord, despite any accollades they may receive for women’s ministry home-runs, keep my sisters ever humble and desperate for You. You promise to guide the humble down the right path and teach them Your ways. (Psalm 25:9)

May their prayer be that of Solomon, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10)

[May they] clothe [themselves] with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

May they hear and respond to Paul’s plea, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)

By Your Spirit, empower them to live lives worthy of imitation so they can say to their women, “Join together in following my example, sisters.” (Philippians 3:17)

Lord, pave the way for my sisters to have a glorious time at She Speaks. Prepare their hearts to receive all You have for them…all the practical information and, more importantly, all the personal edification. The She Speaks Conference is nothing if not a place for women to know they are treasured, precious, and Yours.

I pray all this in the beautiful, faithful name of Jesus, AMEN

PrayerGift Mondays: A Prayer for the Planners

June 13, 2011 in prayergifts for she speaks with 6 Comments

I admire organized people.

Some days, I don’t think I could organize my way out of a Piggly Wiggly sack.

Over the years, I have developed some strategies that work for me, but I doubt I’ll ever call myself organized.

When I think of that elusive word, a sweet face pops into my mind: LeAnn Rice, the mastermind planner/organizer behind the Proverbs 31 Ministries She Speaks Conference.

For the past three years, I have been blessed to attend this unique conference: the perfect blend of spiritual refreshment and practical teaching in the areas of Christian speaking, writing, and women’s ministry.

From the moment a woman registers for the conference, the blessing begins. Communication is timely, helpful, and seasoned with grace. It’s almost as if the P31 ladies anticipate every possible complication or question. And much of the thoughtful preparation comes from the heart, head, and hands of LeAnn.

As I begin this series of prayergifts for the 2011 She Speaks Conference, I feel led to start with a prayer for LeAnn and her team as they feverishly finalize everything that makes up this conference that has impacted me so much. I love you, ladies, and even more, I love the Jesus in you!


Lord,


As I reflect on the three opportunities I’ve had to attend the She Speaks Conference, I am in awe of the way You work through willing hearts. The conference is truly a love gift from Your heart to the women You ordain to attend. From the first friendly contact upon registering to just the right Bible promise card waiting at the last altar call, the She Speaks Conference is all about hearing Your heartbeat and allowing our hearts to fall into the same rhythm of grace.


As I’ve watched the P31 women in action, I’ve grown to believe that they truly desire to do things Your way. Everything.


When I looked up “everything” in a concordance, I read of Moses doing “everything just as the Lord commanded him.” (Exodus 40:16) Moses wasn’t a perfect man, but when he submitted his will to Yours, not only did he please You, he was a leader the Israelites could follow. And he was a friend of God. (Exodus 33:11)


I believe You see Your P31 daughters with the same affection you saw Moses. You see them as friends listening to Your heart about all the details of She Speaks. They are taking You up on Your promise to make known to them everything from Your heart. (John 15:15) You have a plan for the conference, and these precious women are trying to do everything just as You commanded. Just as you testified of David, I believe you say of Your P31 daughters: “I have found [these precious ones], [women]after my own heart; [they] will do everything I want [them] to do.” (Acts 13:22)


As you commanded Moses to anoint everything in the new tabernacle to make it holy, I pray LeAnn and the P31 team will anoint every detail of this year’s conference with prayer. (Exodus 40:9) Every binder of materials. Every seat in the meeting rooms. Every name. Every heart. Every word. Every response. Everything.


With so much “everything” to remember, it’s so easy to become too busy to spend time at Your feet. I pray my sisters will not fall prey to one of Satan’s oldest ploys: distraction. Help them to stay focused on You, for You are what all of this is about. Your glory. Your fame. Your word shared to the few so they can share to the many. In the mornings, when LeAnn and her team open their eyes from restful sleep, may their first thoughts be of You, not of everything that must be accomplished that day. May their hearts quake over the thought of spending those first moments of the day singing love songs with You. Give them a new song each morning that will carry them through the day. A melody that will steady stressed nerves and lift strained spirits. “God is my strength, God is my song, and, yes! God is my salvation. This is the kind of God I have and I’m telling the world! (Exodus 15:2 The Message)


The “everything” of a conference of this magnitude can be overwhelming to anyone…even someone as organized as LeAnn. When the anxiety begins to loom, remind LeAnn and her team not to “worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.” Give them the courage to tell You what they need, and thank You, in advance, for all You have done. (Philippians 4:6 NLT) Remind them that “[You are] not served by human hands, as if [You] needed anything. Rather, [You give] everyone life and breath and everything else.” (Acts 17:25) This is Your conference, and You will have Your way with it. “Everything [You do]will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. [You do]it so that people will fear [You].” (Ecclesiastes 3:14)


You have chosen these women to be vessels of grace. From Your dwelling place, You watch them and consider everything they do. (Psalm 33:13-15) You see the motive behind every decision. “Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; [You probe] for what is good.” (Proverbs 16:2 MSG) Help my sisters to settle for nothing less than what You see as good.


Above all else, may my P31 sisters guard their hearts, for everything they do flows from them. Even when they are confronted with graceless behavior, keep their mouths free of perversity and corrupt talk far from their lips; fixing their eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of their faith. May they give careful thought to the paths for their feet and be steadfast in all their ways. (Proverbs 4:22-25; Hebrews 12:2)


As the conference commences, P31 gals will be complimented over every little thing from the dinner rolls to the deep spiritual truths. The evil one will use the accollades to try to sneak in some pride under their hearts’ doors. Whisper to their souls: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (I Corinthians 16:13-14) Though their hands build the She Speaks Conference, You are the builder of everything. (Hebrew 3:3-4)


Keep them desperate for You so they give You their everything from their poverty like the poor widow Jesus honored with a mention. (Mark 12:43-44)


If doubt casts a shadow over their joy in serving or their worth, remind them that even when their hearts condemn them, You are greater than their hearts, and You know everything. (I John 3:19-20) You work out everything in conformity with the purpose of Your will and You make all things beautiful in Your time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Ephesians 1:11)


Keep my P31 sisters one in heart and mind; considering nothing to be their own, but sharing everything they have with each other and with all who walk the floors of that hotel. (Acts 4:32)


In everything, may they treat others in the manner they would want to be treated, and may every detail be done in a fitting and orderly way, which is pleasing to You. (Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 14:40)


When fatigue from long hours of preparation begins to wear on my sisters, smooth their frayed nerves with the truth that “it is God who works in [them] to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. [Empower them to] do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that [they] may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then [they] will shine among them like stars in the sky. (Philippians 2:13-15) May these women “be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” (1 Timothy 3:11) May the employees and guests at the hotel see the grace of Christ in every P31 leader, every volunteer, and every attendee. Through Your divine power, You have given them everything they need to live a godly life through their knowledge of You and Your precious promises. (2 Peter 1:3-4)


Over everything at the 2011 She Speaks Conference, may Your glory be a canopy. (Isaiah 4:5)


Finally, “may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip [my P31 sisters] with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in [them] what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)