Being Women of Influence

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30 NKJV

What we focus on has great significance. If we strive for outward appearances to be perfect, we are sorely disappointed. For our hair may lay perfectly one day and not the next. Our faces may be flawless one day but blemished or wrinkled the next. New clothes are nice but they eventually fall out of style or wear out. Nothing external is permanent. It is all temporary, fading, and passing away.

But there is something that lasts. It is our very soul within. When our sole is connected rightly with God we shine. As we conduct our lives according to His will for us we are renewed inwardly by His Spirit. We are transformed into His likeness and as a result are pleasing to God.

The apostle Paul said there are some benefits to physical exercise but the real and lasting benefits come from spiritual growth. Are you focused on outward appearances or inner beauty found in a quiet and gentle spirit?

Lord help us to focus on the things that truly matter, a quiet and gentle spirit. Keep us from the temptation to strive for perfection on the outside. For your word tells us you do not look at the outward appearance but you look at the heart. May our hearts be holy and pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen.

Sign up for 8 week Bible Study on Proverbs 31 Woman:

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Technorati Tags: godly women, Proverbs 31 woman, women of influence

Deborah McCarragher began her journey of creative writing soon after coming to know Jesus as her personal savior in 1989.  She uses her spiritual gifts of encouragement and teaching in her home church.  She also enjoys in-depth bible study in her personal time, and is a small business owner of over twenty years.  Her love of the Holy scripture and bible study are evident in her poetry and literary works.  She and her husband attend Hibernia Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, and reside in Fleming Island, Florida.  Her primary goal is to share her personal testimony with others while bringing hope and practical help through her books.

Mission Possible is a unique book in the Christian marketplace.  It addresses a subject that is often overlooked and misunderstood.  It is a candid look at my struggles and quest to reach my husband for Christ.  I became a believer seven years into our marriage.  It is written as I have lived it, and applies scripture and biblical context to each chapter.   The book has bible study application questions at the end of each section, as well as three self-reflection points to help the reader “digest” what they have read.  Mission Possible was nominated for Christian Small Publisher’s Assoc. Book of the Year Award for 2009.

Tell us a little about your background.

I grew up in a Navy family and moved frequently as a child.  I married my first husband right out of high school.  That marriage ended in divorce four years later. I remarried in 1982 (to my current husband) and we’ll be married 28 years in January 2010.  Seven years into our marriage, I gave my life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

What inspired you to write this influential book?

I was involved with a local intercessory prayer group at the time, and was prompted by God during prayer to write down what He was conveying to me about my husband and his salvation.  It was quite literally written while inspired, and without much effort on my part.  I just typed on the computer as He led me to bible verses and topics to talk about.  I remember writing down the names of the (7) chapters during prayer time on a tablet – just looking at them afterwards in awe.  It was quite a moving experience.

What primary advice do you have for women who are married to “non-believing” husbands?

I think the most important advice is to have faith in Who God Is and His sovereignty.  We can’t “pre-package” our spouse’s conversion experience, and God will always do what will bring Him the “most glory”.  We also have to remember that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood.  Our spouse (if unsaved) isn’t governed by God’s Spirit – so we have to release them from that accountability.  We must have faith that rests in God and not in our own understanding, or by sight!

What kinds of reactions has the book generated thus far?

I have had great reaction to my little book.  Some women love it because it is not lengthy, and they can read it quickly – yet refer back to it over & over again.  One woman emailed me a testimony that she was nearly ready to leave her husband, but after reading the book, felt that God was leading her to give her marriage another try.  That was very humbling and gratifying for me.  I just want to help women see that there is an alternative to being miserable in an unequally yoked marriage.
 

What’s the main message that you’d like readers to take away from it?

I would love readers to discover that God has a plan for each marriage that is in spiritual disunity.  It involves us, but it is always done HIS WAY!  I want readers to know that it is a process that evolves over time, that we must not put Him (God) in a box, but give Him room to move in our spouse’s life.  They need to know that because we are not perfect and continue to sin, that satan will harass us (women) and try to influence us to believe that our “mission” is not possible – but with God, all things are possible!

Technorati Tags: Godly Marriage, godly wife, Help for unequally yoked marriage

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:31 NKJV

Those who work deserve their pay. Proverbs 31 Woman is a wonderful example of a dedicated, responsible and loving woman. This verse describes her due.

She worked willingly and now deserves the fruit of her labor. Her works were done to benefit others, not to gather glory to her self. Therefore, praises come from her very work it self.

So remember, if you haven’t yet experienced the fruit or praise from labor done in obedience to God’s will, be patient. It will happen as surely as the sun will rise again tomorrow. Continue doing what’s right without growing weary for at the appropriate time you will reap a harvest.

Lord, help us not focus on the reward itself for doing good, but rather doing good out of love for You. May we continue in your ways all the days of our lives so your purposes will be carried out in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Sign up for 8 week Bible Study on Proverbs 31 Woman:

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Technorati Tags: godly women, Proverbs 31 woman, women of influence

Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29 NKJV

Following the Lord’s leading will have its consequences. Here we see Proverbs 31 Woman receiving praise from her husband. Proverbs 3:3-4 NKJV says “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.” This woman knew how to do just that.

If our aim is to please God, we find favor with God and as an added bonus we also receive favor from man. The priority must be God and His Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), and then all these other things will be added. Confusing these by aiming to please man first will result in much disappointment, bitterness, resentment, anger and discouragement. Therefore, if you are experiencing these side affects you may want to revisit your priorities through prayer.

Father God above, forgive me for loosing my focus on You. Help me regain the balance of being rightly related to You and man. Enable me to seek Your will first. Break the people-pleasing tendency by helping me focus on pleasing You alone. Jesus said in Matthew 11-28:30 NKJV: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Help me bring my burdens to You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Sign up for 8 week Bible Study on Proverbs 31 Woman:

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Technorati Tags: godly women, Proverbs 31 woman, women of influence

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27 NKJV

People can be difficult to live with. It’s easy to look the other way or pretend everything is okay when it is not. The idleness spoken of here is about failing to do what’s healthy and right in our relationships. The Proverbs 31 Woman knows what to do. She knows everything going on in her household. If a conflict arises, she springs into action. If someone’s feelings are hurt, she aids those involved to resolve their issue in a godly manner.

The imagery used “bread of idleness” helps us understand how doing nothing about a strained relationship can be satisfying in a warped kind of way. For bread satisfies. Depending on the type of bread, it can either be healthy or not so healthy. Take wheat bread for example. It’s supposed to be better for you than white bread. The bread of idleness is like an unhealthy type of bread we should avoid. What happens when we eat unhealthy bread? Nothing happens, at least right away. The consequences of a bad diet don’t exhibit themselves immediately. No, the problems arise later.

It’s the same with relationships. You can go along your merry way pretending all is well in your relationship. Ten years later find yourself, bitter and filled with resentment. That’s what the bread of idleness with do. So let’s learn from Proverbs 31 Woman and watch over our households by not eating the bread of idleness.

Lord Jesus, you alone cause all things to work for good to those who love you and are called according to your purposes. Help us to steer clear of the bread of idleness. Teach us to watch over our households diligently. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

Sign up for 8 week Bible Study on Proverbs 31 Woman:

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Technorati Tags: godly women, Proverbs 31 woman, women of influence

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Proverbs 31:28 NKJV

This verse reminds me of a certain commercial for some kind of food. When the mother serves it, her child stands up on his chair and praises her for making it for them. It’s so unrealistic it is funny!

I never would have believed one day my kids would be thankful for all I have done for them…until I became thankful for my own mother. I was in my mid-thirties. One morning I was making a hot breakfast for my son and struggling with so many things to get ready before we had to leave. Then it hit me. Wow! My mother had made me a hot breakfast every day I lived with her. Not only that, but she never fussed over how much work it was! Now I understood what it meant to work so hard with little or no thanks. So realizing how long it took me, I now know one day my kids will understand just like I finally did. How wonderful the thought.

Don’t be discouraged when your children are not always thankful. A great verse to remember in that situation is Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Lord Jesus, we are thankful you never give up on us. Help us never give up on our kids. Equip us to continue doing what is right without growing weary. In the end we will reap a harvest of right living. In your name we pray. Amen.

Sign up for 8 week Bible Study on Proverbs 31 Woman:

©Elizabeth Marks has led small group Bible studies for almost a decade. Author of ThinkOnItBibleDevotions.com and BeingWomenOfInfluence.com websites she has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.

Technorati Tags: godly women, Proverbs 31 woman, women of influence

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

Every little girl dreams of being a princess and living happily ever after.  One day, those little girls grow up to be women who enter the workforce or choose to stay home and raise children of their own. But that dream of being a princess and living happily ever after never leaves her.

Most working women struggle with balancing work and family and being confident in their role in life and society.  We tear ourselves apart between the internal battles over self worth and seeking the affirmation from our culture–which does not come. But we keep on dreaming.

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function…We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:4, 6 (NIV)

God has given each woman a unique purpose in life, along with the talents and spiritual gifts to fulfill it.  He calls some to be in the workforce for a season, some not at all, and a few to serve in the highest positions of leadership and influence.  God created every woman special, each one different from the next.

In Judges 4:4, we meet Deborah, a wife, a woman of great influence and a mighty leader.  She was a spiritual and political authority in the nation of Israel.  “Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time” (NIV).

God used her courage, wisdom and leadership skills to fight out on the battle field.  She accompanied Barak into battle against Sisera, to bring victory and liberation to the people of Israel.

Phoebe, an influential woman in her community served in and was a contributing part of Paul’s ministry. “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.  I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me” Romans 16:1-2 (NIV).

But perhaps the most challenging yet influential role a woman may have is that of mother.  On mornings when we are running late, the kids are slow in putting on their shoes and they are in danger of missing the bus and you the morning meeting, it may be hard to see our work as a mother as service unto the Lord and our children a gift.  “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

But Jesus cares very much about the role of the mother.  Jesus knows how important the bond between mother and child is; he understands what a mother’s love and touch does to an impressionable mind and heart.  In fact, Jesus’ last act of kindness was to take care of his mother and make sure that she was not alone.  “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…  When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” John 19:25-27 (NIV).

We are also the bride of Christ and Jesus is our husband.  Married or not, we should all desire to conduct ourselves in such a way to honor Jesus because of our love for him.  If we live as if Jesus were our husband, then we cannot disappoint our earthly husband.

Ladies, know that you are loved by the King and you are his princess. One day you will live happily ever after.  God has specially gifted you to carry out your life’s purpose at home, at work, in the church and in the community according to his perfect order and plans.

© Helen M. Mitchell is the director and co-founder of the workplace ministry at Saddleback Church. She is also a speaker, author, and consultant to companies and ministries regarding strategy, organizational effectiveness, and building cohesive leadership teams.

www.strategicmgmtresources.com

Technorati Tags: influence at work, women at work, women of influence, workplace influence

Learn from Proverbs 31 Woman.  This section of scripture is jammed packed with positive examples of godly influence. 

Technorati Tags: godly woman, proverbs 31 bible study, Proverbs 31 woman, woman of influence

A co-worker of mine was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer.  She is a mother of three small children.  She is also a believer in Jesus Christ.  Throughout her treatments, she did not complain or ask questions like “why me?” but rather she did what she had to do quietly and patiently.

During and after her treatments, as many experience, she lost most of her natural hair.  She wore a wig to hide her baldness, but it wasnt’ for her benefit rather for ours.  Others going through the same situation were more concerned over their loss of hair.  It was devastating to them, being robbed their natural beautiful hair.  This had quite an impact on my co-worker friend.

When she herself began growing hair again, she made a commitment to give back to others.  She sommitted to growing her hair long only to cut it off and donate to a wig making companies serving cancer patients.  In this way, she could ease the pain of others by supplying them what they lacked during their ordeal.  Who better knows what a cancer patient goes through than someone who has already gone through it.  God never wastes a hurt.  He uses it for good.  He certaintly did with my friend.

This woman is a woman of influence.  God uses all things for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.  This woman used her influence to bring hope to others.  She inspires others to do the same.

Technorati Tags: cancer patient, donating, godly woman, influence, serving

Most authors dream of selling a million copies of their books …

Joyce is a bit different. 

She wants to GIVE AWAY A MILLION COPIES

 Of her first book in E-Book format.

Chili and Chocolate Cake is not your average inspirational book; and is as unique as the title.  The author shares her message of forgiveness, restoration, and hope for hurting women– especially those who have experienced the loss of a child through abortion, miscarriage, or stillborn birth.  This book is a shining testimony to the power of God to heal the broken heart.  Author Joyce Schneider’s dramatic life and the miraculous change from a tortured young women  to a great woman of God  will encourage every reader.  God even used the stablilty gained from preparing chili and chocolate cake to weave the thread of His grace throughout her troubled life.  Get ready for an outpouring–from the barren days of the past, to springs of living waters; rivers that will refresh long after you close the pages of this book.

                    Thank you for being a part of our Million Copy Give Away!

Joyce Schneider is a wife, mother, author and speaker living in Naples, Florida with her husband and sons.  Joyce uses her real life experiences to share healing and hope through faith in Jesus Christ.

Joyce has a passion for helping hurting woman, especially those suffering from past abortions, miscarriage or stillborn birth.  She understands the hurt left inside from these traumatic events. 

Her writings share her experiences in walking out her faith in day to day life; her discovery that God doesn’t want our perfection, but rather our hearts.

Technorati Tags: free giveaway, godly woman, help for the helping, women of influence