My color coded calendar is lit up like the Vegas strip with verifiable excuses. Purple family events like travel and doctor visits. Yellow business deadlines. Green dates set aside for friends. Trying to be a godly wife, raise a teenager, run a business, manage a household, teach, write, speak and grow a ministry make for a fun, full colorful life.
So, what? Show me one woman who’s NOT busy. Why has that kept me from fulfilling my ministry? The Neighborhood Cafe has outpaced and out placed every other desire of my heart. Yet my last blog post is over a month old. I teach people how to blog for a living! “An outdated blog is worse than no blog at all,” I tell them. I have pages of notes and tons of ideas… all unadorned, unimplemented, unused.
God’s call for me to help women gather for “Coffee, Conversation & Christ” was as clear and confirmed as His call to Archippus and Timothy in Colossians 4:17 NKJV, 1 Timothy 4:14-15 NASB and 2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV:
“Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you… Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.”
Women all over the country have confided in me, we are all hearing the same whisper! It can only be the Holy Spirit!
“Love your neighbor.
That’s her! Right next door.
I’ve been working in her heart.
She’s ready! Are you?”
Ladies, our neighbors are saying YES! They are responding to invitations for a cup of coffee, a walk, a lunch, a chat. I believe we’re on the edge of a glorious old-fashioned revival of friendships and fellowship unlike anything our new-fangled neighborhoods have ever seen!
Here’s my commitment to you and to our neighbors, boldly stated so you can hold me accountable and call my bluff:
The Neighborhood Cafe Kit contains a workbook, preparation checklists, preprinted invitations, follow up cards, guest lists, instructions for maintaining your personal web page, a CD of reprintable files & more!
- The Neighborhood Cafe kit containing everything you need to start a Cafe will be available to order by June 1.
- The final pages on preparing your open house, selecting teaching material, planning childcare, leading a small group, follow through and community service will be complete by the end of July.
- The first week of August, when I return from the She Speaks Conference, I’ll be in high gear for the fall season of ministry when children go back to school and life returns to normal.
I’ll pay close attention to myself and my teaching, persevering in these things, for as we do this we will ensure salvation both for ourselves and for those who hear us!
Sound like a tall order? Well, it’s not mine. It’s Paul’s command to Timothy (1 Timothy 4:16 NASB).
I need me some Paul, a friend who will softly pat me on the head, gently pull me by the hand ~ or give me a swift kick me in the pants.
The countdown has begun!
I’ll be your Paul, girlfriend! So, today you get the soft pat on the head…I love you for all you have been to me in the last several weeks. God continues to be glorified through you.
It feels so good to get back on my own bandwagon! Thanks for your constant encouragement; I accept your “soft pat” and I know you’re also good for that swift kick when I need it. Thanks for stretching me both physically and spiritually!
Read this today by Max Lucado quoting Robert Schuller: ” ‘I am not who I think I am. I am not who you think I am. I am who I think you think I am.’ (You might want to read that twice.)”
Love ya!