Friday, February 6, 2009

Do not grow weary....

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~ Matt. 11:28

Something has been weighing heavily on my heart. I bring it to my blog in hopes that you will take the time to pray in this for me. I believe the greatest thing we can do for each other is to pray for each other.

Our women's ministry in my church is void of anything. I cherish the friendships and spiritual connections I have developed here in blog land. I cherish the sharing of the spiritual, the sharing of our hearts, mind and soul. Several years ago, God laid it on my heart to be involved in the women's ministry. My husband is on the church leadership team (called deacons or elders in other congregations). It seemed only fitting from a female perspective, this wife should follow suit.

My heart is ecstatic over what I have found in my God throughout the years. I don't want to keep it in. I want to share it. I want other women to be as motivated and excited about this relationship with our Heavenly Father as I am. But this ministry seems dead. There are some wonderful godly women in our church and yet...they are only in the pews. There is no Titus 2 ministry occurring. If we host a women's Bible study, maybe five will attend (we average around 250 in services each Sunday). My heart is trying to grow weary.


He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. ~ Isaiah 40:29

So I continue to seek His face in this. The longing in my heart for this ministry will not go away. Some days I wish it would. I have to and will continue to prod forth. God has a plan. I must seek it out. This journey He has taken me on, carried me through, has grown in my heart such a profound desire to lead others to Him. Despite the resistance I may experience along the way, I am determined not to be overcome by the weariness that tries to knock at my life's door.

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. ~ Isaiah 50:4

Pray for this ministry and my leadership of it. I felt God instruct me that it is time to extend out of our church walls with this ministry. A few of the ladies agreed. So the women's ministry team (which is only about two of us now) will be hosting Beth Moore's Esther Bible study as a community Bible study. We have opened two session, one in the evening and one during the day to be flexible and not during typical "church times". As of last week, only five church ladies had signed up. The advertisement for this study went out in the local paper Wednesday and will continue throughout this month. Pray God will send the right women from our community and church to this. Pray for growth. Pray that He will also send me another partner who is just as called, just as excited about sharing God to others.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9


There are a lot of people out there that need to know our Lord like we do. We are His missionaries, His light in this cold dark world, his maidservant to complete His kingdom work. There is a harvest out there and we need to be busy in it.

I cherish your prayers my friends.

His Maidservant~Pamela

9 comments:

MrsProverbs31 said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Know that you and your ministry will be in my prayer journal. Please, update me on your progress so I can update my prayer journal as well. Thank you,

Shoua
pastor-wife@hotmail.com

Annette said...

I will be praying with you! We have a wonderful women's Bible study we call "Roof-Crashers", and ladies from all different churches as well us some who aren't even believers join with us. God has grown this ministry in the last couple of years. It's amazing what God will do. And, we give him all the credit, because it's certainly not any talent that we have!

Yolanda said...

Pamela....you are a LIGHT in a very difficult world. And I continue to pray.

I love ya,
Yolanda

Libby said...

I hear your cry Pamela!!
At our old church before we moved to the mountains of NC...our women's ministry get-togethers were more meetings than anything else...we always discussed business and funds and what next...we never spent time in the word together, or in prayer together, or just being together.

At our church now...it is the exact opposite. It is like a church service just for women! It is wonderful!! We have praise and worship first, then a message from the heart of out Pastor Michelle. Plus we meet once a month for prayer ministry at someone's house. We never discuss "business"...its all about getting closer to each other thru getting closer with God. Check out our website sometime and you can hear some of her teachings, they are wonderful. www.breakthroughwoc.org.

God has layed on my heart recently to start an online bible study. Where women like me...working moms, who can't always make it at the scheduled times can meet. The idea is it will cut out some of the unnecessary time...time to get ready, find a babysitter, travel, or clean your house before the group comes over. My husband is helping me with a program that we can log into and talk freely about whatever study we choose. I also picked the Beth Moore study on Esther...it sounded like the perfect start to this adventure!!
I just have to iron out some of the technical kinks first!!
So I'll make a deal with you...you pray for me, and I in turn will do the same for you!!

This is getting long, sorry...but thanks for all the insight you have given me...it still amazes me how God puts the right people in your path at just the right time!

In Him, Libby

LisaShaw said...

Pam, I certainly will pray. There is much I could share but I will just say that your heart is so connected to the Lord's and He has a plan in this...be patient and prayerful. Don't grow weary in well doing. Remain focused in Him and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Bless you.

Laura said...

Pamela,

Our church is very similar in this matter. It has grieved me tremendously. Our church has had some rough times, and so I, like you am seeking His face and His will in this.

I will pray for your ministry, friend.

Amy said...

Hi, Pamela!:)

Thanks for your sweet words on my blog. I have missed you and all of my bloggy buddies too. I have been doing some "spiritual" housecleaning, so to speak. I read a book by Donna Partow called "Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture." It was so encouraging to me. I have been struggling with some issues in my heart and my walk, and I have really needed this break to gain some "Godly" perspective for my life. I am now reading "Slighty Bad Girls of the Bible." And, needless to say, we can all identify with them, amen?;)

I will pray for you concerning the matter that you shared in this post. I wrote down some verses and quotes on index cards while reading Donna's book, and I think you will like this one:

"God sees.
God listens.
God has a plan for me."

Simple truths.
I need to remind myself of these simple truths when I feel like God "seems" to be absent from a situation in my life. He isn't. He sees. He hears. He's actively involved. All the time.

I hope to be back to blogging soon, but for right now, I'm trying to get my perspective back....from God's point of view...not my own.

I miss you too!
(((BIG HUGS!)))
Amy:)

Anonymous said...

Pamela,
I want you to know I have prayed for you. During my prayer while calling out for you, it dawned on me, maybe This is going to be something that can "revive" the Christians within your church. You just keep on shining your light and being strong, no matter who shows up. The ones who are dedicated and are showing up, ask them to bind together with you in this prayer for the women's ministry. God Bless you and all you do. Do not get discouraged. I pray that God will re-new your strength and spirit each and every day.

Carol said...

Pamela,

Oh I hear your cry. Our church is the same, I had been praying for a women's ministry, but have faltered on that prayer. I will hold your ministry in prayer, and you've reminded me that I need to prayer about ours.

Love
Carol