"Right
to the Heart of Women" EZINE
an electronic newsletter for Women Who
Minister to Women
Right From My Heart by Linda Evans Shepherd,
publisher
Is
This Gift for Me?
Are you operating in ministry
with the gifts God has given you?
Sometimes we match our ministry
tasks to needs whether or not God has gifted us in that area. For example,
when God called me to found Right
to the Heart of Women, I ran everything
— updating the mailing lists, editing the e-zine, planning the national
conference — you name it. I performed these tasks out of necessity. Even
though some of these tasks did not match my ministry gifts, God gave me
His grace to fulfill them. However, as the ministry grew, I found I did
not have the grace to do it all.
I believe God hasn't called
us all to be His hands, but to 'hand-off' ministry tasks to others He has
summoned to work beside us. I began to slowly let go of certain tasks,
handing them over to others who were gifted to perform them. What a joy!
God called my friend Betty Voshage to head up The Right
to the Heart of
Women Ministry Leadership Conference. (See www.righttotheheartofwomen);
He called my friend Rebekah Montgomery to edit Right
to the Heart of
Women Ezine, which you are reading at this moment. He called my friend
Connie Salmen to be my assistant and perform many of the 
administrative
tasks. In every instance, God's grace kept me going until His gifted women
stood beside me.
Could God be asking you to let
go of absolute control and open your eyes to those ready to come along
side of you to help fulfill your ministry vision? Allow your called and
gifted sisters the joy of performing the tasks to which they are called
and gifted by God. It’s the only way to expand or fulfill your God-given
ministry vision.
Right
to the Heart of Women Conference
Are you hearing the call of God on your life but are puzzled how to respond?
Are you searching for a way to use your spiritual giftedness?
Do you want to hone the ministry skills that you already have? Then you
need to attend the Right to the Heart of Women Conference June 20 - 21 in Indianapolis,
Indiana. This two-day event will help you become equipped and empowered as
a dynamic, anointed servant
leader!
Unlike any conference you have ever attended, Right to the Heart of Women
Conference will help you discern what God wants to do with your life and
give you direction. Taught by women who have been where you are and understand
your questions and circumstances, you will find encouragement and solid, Spirit-filled teaching.
For more information, please check out the following link: https://righttotheheart.com/women/conf03.htm
Love Notes by Rebekah Montgomery, editor
of Right to the Heart of Women
Three
Wise Gifts from the King
My mother was wise and observant.
Instead of buying paper dolls, she gave me Bible flannel graph. I dressed
our many barn cats and the patient family dog in Sunday-best doll clothes,
sat them on little chairs, and employed the flannel stories to earnestly
fulfill the Great Commission’s injunction to “preach the gospel to every
creature.” After I presented the plan of salvation and sang a few verses
of “Just As I Am,” my captive creatures looked very repentant as I led
them in the sinner’s prayer. This was a serious endeavor on my part. Cats
had a high mortality rate. Who knew when the dog would chase the wrong
car? On Judgement Day, I didn’t want to face the accusatory eyes of my
beloved pets and watch them, tails drooping with misery, trotting off to
eternal damnation.
Funny now, serious then — and
a clue to my budding spiritual gifts.
Speaking of spiritual gifts,
Paul said, “There are different kinds of gifts,” referring to talents intrinsic
and in-born. “There are different kinds of service,” referring to the ministry
gifts. “There are different kinds of working,” referring to the anointed
gifts. (1 Cor. 12:4-6)
The three types of spiritual
gifts correspond with the presents brought to the Christ Child:
— Gold is elemental, as are
our inborn gifts.
— Frankincense was incense used
by priests 
during sacrifices. Our service gifts are used as a sacrifice
of praise to elicit worship and repentance.
— Myrrh was used for preserving
dead bodies. Our anointed gifts are for the restoration of the Body of
Christ.
It is my prayer that this issue
of Right to the Heart of Women e-zine will help us all to become
wise women who lay our gifts at the feet of the King.
Words For the Wise
Others are often the first to
discern our spiritual gifts. Has more than one person told you what a good
teacher you are? God is telling you He’s given you the gift of teaching.
Are you the first to notice what others need, the significant little things
that make their lives easier? The gift of help and encouragement is so
like God. Thank Him for giving it to you and showing you ways to exercise
it. If you are not sure what your gifts are, ask Him. He will waste no
time sending someone to tell you.
Our pastor wrote me a note in
bold handwriting one day: “Virelle, God wired you up to be a speaker. Never
doubt that.” I taped his note to my wall, and on days when I feel overwhelmed
and tired, when nothing I have to say seems worth listening to, I read
that note and thank God for telling him to write it.
Tune your ear to the voices
God is using to speak to you. 
And when He tells you something wonderful,
it’s a good idea to believe Him.
Virelle Kidder (Portions of
this article first appeared in Today’s Christian Woman, Jan/Feb.
2003)
"We are all pencils in
the hand of a writing God, Who is sending love letters to the world."
Mother Teresa
Leading Hearts by Kris Bearss
Investment Potential
One of the best things we can
do for the women we mentor is to join them in the process of discovery
— especially as they come to discover how their unique combination of gifts,
experiences, and passions can be used within the kingdom. This is an important
way that we as older women can “prepare [them] for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 3:12).
Here are a few ideas for guiding
any woman to a greater understanding of how she may be more intentional
with her time and talents:
-
Make use of not
just spiritual gifts inventories, but temperament, love language and leadership-style
inventories.
-
Invite her to work alongside
you in your ministry for a time to get a taste and vision for how God
might specifically use her.
- Sit in with her
and observe as she begins to exercise her gifts in various ways.
- Worship with her
and attend ministry seminars and retreats together so that you get to
know her heart.
- Note how she interacts
with her friends, family and women within the church
- Have her conduct
a “survey” of her life with those who have known her best so that she may
discern the patterns that have existed. Then have her list what she wants
to be true of her, including
her core values, as she matures. This will
give you both a picture of where she’s been and where she’s headed.
I’ve also found that “debriefing”
over coffee immediately after an experience—while the thoughts and feelings
and awakenings are still fresh--is particularly helpful for you and the
person you’re investing in.
Reader’s Write
From Doubting Wife:
I suspect that my husband has
a problem with pornography. I have confronted him with irrefutable evidence,
but he totally denies it. I have lost the ability to trust him. My husband
travels a great deal and is a high profile church lay leader with a growing
ministry. What do you suggest?
Doubting Wife’s question was
posed to the writers and speakers of AWSA (Advanced
Writers and Speakers Association) and suggestions poured in. Here are some excerpts:
Pamela Christian writes:
Pray, pray, pray! Seek the Lord
in all earnestness. Remember: This is not a battle against flesh and blood
but powers and principalities... (Ephesians 5:12) You must confide to prayer
warriors who will intercede for you. You need to confide in a pastor or
counselor who can intervene and cause him to see the devastation if there's
to be any hope for the marriage.
Your husband’s denial must be
confronted. He must come 
to understand the devastation of his actions.
The inroads the enemy has gained in the mind of your husband may have already
penetrated the minds of other family members. He needs to realize his responsibility
and make restitution and diligently work to reestablish trust. It's not
just about saying I'm sorry and repenting. There's been destruction and
rebuilding is necessary.
Pam recommends the following
books:
- "An Affair of the Mind" by
Laurie Hall
- "The Hart Report: The Sexual
Man" by Archibald Hart
- "Kosher Sex" by
Shmuly Boteach.
- "The Relationship Cure:
A Five-step Guide to Strengthening Your Marriage, Family and Friendships" by
John Gottman PhD and Joan Declarie
Kari West writes:
You’re wise to be concerned.
Pornography’s groundswell is tumbling marriages off their foundations.
A pastor-friend says he’s shocked at the number of lay leaders he counsels
who admit to watching porn in their hotel room when traveling for church-related
events. In isolation and secrecy, a man thinks no one knows, so he strays
in thought or attitude while appearing committed to the marriage. That’s
how porn gains its foothold. Experts say that imaginary sex
is often better than real sex because one’s partner, the performance of
both participants, and the surroundings are controlled by the mind.
Do not believe porn’s message
that you, his wife, are not enough. You cannot compete with "The Look" —
that ideal woman who exists only in an air-brushed photo, erotic video,
or a man’s imagination. Hold tightly to the truth that you are an average
woman who fell in love with an ordinary man who took a wrong turn. Find
someone to walk with you (friend, counselor, mentor) as you acknowledge
the ugliest things about the man you love and examine the consequences
of his behavior from betraying your trust to breaking faith with the original
covenant and joint goals of your marriage.
Your husband must become accountable
by giving up control to a mentor, group, or counselor because porn’s
instant tension release without responsibility can all too quickly become
boring
and escalate into perverse deviations and acting out with real images:
prostitutes and one-night stands. Only by facing the truth that he cannot
conquer this alone will your husband be freed from this sexual addiction.
Infidelity (an internal pulling away from one’s spouse) is usually the
first step toward adultery (the external visible act of sexual intercourse
with someone not your spouse).
Kari recommends the following
resources:
Audio tapes from Focus on the
Family (Call 1-800-A-FAMILY):
— # CT009/17709 "The Hidden
Enemy of Marriage"
Panelists
Kari West and Noelle Quinn (authors of "When He Leaves") and Laurie Hall (author of "An
Affair of the Mind") share their personal stories, including the
discovery and consequences of their husband’s sexual addictions; explore
dangers
of hard-core pornography and its effect on marriage.
— #CS877 - "Christian Men
and Sexuality" -
Dr. Archibald Hart talks about the burden of guilt
men carry about their sexuality.
— #CS452 - "Pornography Kills" -
Serial killer Ted Bundy’s final interview with Dr. Dobson the day before
his execution.
Do you have a question that
you’d like addressed by AWSA (Advanced
Writers and Speakers Association)?
Email your question to rmontgomery@rebekahmontgomery.com.
Your anonymity will be protected.
Program Ideas—What Works in Women’s Ministry
Joyce Bailey writes:
- Business Cards
- I
make business cards for each member of the women's ministry team to give
to visitors and new church members as they introduce themselves to them.
They can also hand them to a female church member whom they feel may
need encouragement or someone to talk or pray with. The cards are lovely
and feminine (found at a local business supplies store) and printed with
the name of our church, the team member's name, address, phone number,
and email address. I encourage our team members to make it their personal
goal to give out all of their cards within a certain period of time.
I feel this is much more efficient and effective than scrambling in the
purse for a piece of paper.
- Minutes Time Saver.
- I email meeting minutes
of our women's ministry team to the individual members, our church secretary,
and our pastor rather than distributing hard copies. Saves me LOTS of
time.
- Free Women!
- On our women's
ministry bulletin board, I post "Free! Take one" lists with our
women's ministry team members and their phone numbers. Women may take a
list to have it handy if they need to contact one of us to pray or talk
with them.
These bright ideas were submitted
by: Joyce Bailey, Women's Ministries Director, Bookcliff Baptist Church,
Grand Junction, Colorado. Joyce will be receiving a FREE copy of Silver
and Gold, Stories of Special Friendships. You may contribute to What
Works by emailing rmontgomery@rebekahmontgomery.com.
If we use your program or ministry tip, you will receive a FREE book of
our choice.
King
David loved music and poetry and used this inborn gift to compose an
impressive body of work. Abel had a green thumb and Nimrod was a natural-born
hunter. Martha of Bethany had extraordinary abilities as a hostess
while it was her sister Mary who recognized the “good thing!” As we
speak,
write, and teach for the King, our intrinsic gifts should shine like
gold! Brenda Nixon tells us how.
Spiritual Gifts of Gold — Inborn Gifting
By Brenda Nixon
“Go with what you know!” my
dad advises. Although his words may seem simplistic, they are profound.
What we know and strive to learn comes from what appeals to us. God gives
us unique interests. It is from these that we gradually settle into our
profession or ministry. Therefore, discovering your spiritual gift can
be as simple as asking, "What do I enjoy?”
For me, teaching and encouraging
people comes naturally. When I entered college my major was religious education.
Throughout life my spiritual gifts found expression through serving others
as a hospital chaplain, a preschool teacher, a parent educator and today,
as a writer and speaker on child behavior. My battery is charged when I’m
designing a presentation or researching and writing an article.
I realize there are several
tools and programs to help people identify spiritual gifts, but you may
distinguish on your own how God has gifted you. Look for a common thread
in your most enjoyable assignments. Do you want to host events? Do you
like organizing parties? Or do you prefer to take orders? Are you a people
person? Or is the library your best friend? Is your comfort zone in the
limelight or the shadows? Are you perceptive? Do you practice intercessory
prayer? Can you discern spiritual nuances?
Look at the characteristics
of secular jobs that you’ve held. 
Do you like routine or flexibility? Does
the thought of being in a cubicle all day send shivers up your spine? Your
answers to these questions can reveal how God has gifted you.
All His gifts are good and purposeful.
They can be expressed in your work at church or in the community. As you
seek to uncover His gifts to you, remember the guidance of going with what
you already know.
Spiritual
Gifts Unwrapped
By Golden Keyes Parsons
A decorated birthday cake, sparkly
birthday banner, and party favors adorn the room. Dozens of beautifully
wrapped packages tumble over each other in abundance — all for the honored
child. One can only imagine the wonderful surprises that lay hidden beneath
the bright paper. However, the contents of the packages will remain a mystery
and unused until the recipient accepts the gifts and opens them.
Our Heavenly Father has prepared
gifts for His children to be accepted and unwrapped as well. They are given
to us at the time of our spiritual birth, but the gifts lie wrapped and
dormant until we uncover and use them. Every child of God is given at least
one spiritual gift to use within the church — not natural talent, but
special gifting of the Holy Spirit. Some may receive more than one, but
every believer is equipped to serve with at least one gift (I Cor. 12:4-7).
Let’s unwrap some of these remarkable presents from our Heavenly Father.
Romans 12:4-8 has for us:
— Prophecy: Persuasively setting
the Word and wisdom of God before people to comfort, edify or instruct.
— Service: Sensing and meeting
physical needs.
— Teaching: Researching and
communicating the Word of God.
—
Exhortation: Drawing alongside to comfort, encourage, rebuke, giving
insight toward action.
—
Giving: Giving liberally and beyond expectation.
— Leadership/Administration:
Organizing and leading to meet the goals of a group.
— Mercy: Sensing emotional needs;
empathizing with those who are hurt; seeking to ease pain with cheerfulness.
In I Corinthians 12:4-11 we
find waiting:
Word of wisdom: Receiving, knowing,
and presenting the insight of God for specific situations.
Word of knowledge: Receiving
factual information from God for specific situations.
— Faith: Seeing God at work
in situations.
— Healing: The supernatural
ability to intervene as an instrument to heal through prayer and laying
on of hands.
— Miracles: An event of supernatural
power accompanying the servant of the Lord to authenticate a divine mission.
— Discerning of spirits: Distinguishing
genuine or spurious motives by detecting the spirit source behind a person’s
speech or actions.
— Tongues: Speaking spontaneously
in a language given by the Holy Spirit unknown to the speaker.
— Interpretation of tongues: Translating
by the Holy Spirit the utterances of one using the gift of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11-12 reveals these
gifts:
— Apostle: The ability to open
new areas of work, such as missionaries with church planting in mind, and
act as a “father” to the new work.
— Evangelism: Communicating
the gospel with 
power and persuasiveness.
— Pastor/teacher:
The ability to feed, lead, and nurture the flock.
These fabulous spiritual gifts
are ours for the taking. Don’t you think it’s time we unwrap them and get
about the business of using them in the Body of Christ?
From the Bookshelf—Newest Releases in Christian
Books
Gifts of Gold by Betty Huizenga
Cook Communications
ISBN: 0-78143-809-8
Trade paper, 144 pp., $10.99
By focusing and honing many
of the gifts that come naturally to many women, Betty Huizenga presents
the concept of woman-to-woman evangelism and discipleship. She clearly
explains the philosophy of Christian mentoring and gives helpful tips on
how to successfully nurture the women’s souls through a combination Bible
study and cooking program. She identifies several large areas of unmet
needs and provides a concise, easy-to-follow curriculum. This book is a
follow-up on a previous book.
Daughter of China by C. Hope Flinchbaugh
Bethany House
ISBN 0-7642-2731-9
Trade paper, 300 pp., $11.99
Here is a love story with meat
— and a bite. The heroine, Mai Lin, has two strikes against her: she is
a woman in a society that only values men and she is a Christian in a country
where faith in God is illegal. Opening a window on the day-to-day life
of a young Chinese believer, we see Mai Lin deliberately reject a life
of luxury to follow the path of clandestine meetings with the underground
Church, arrest, torture, imprisonment, and release. Through it all, she
clings tenaciously to Christ. By the story’s end, we see that although
she has an uncertain and dangerous future ahead for her, she has a Godly
man beside her and the love of Jesus within her. Better than most romances.
In a Heartbeat by Dawn Siegrist Waltman
Cook Communications
ISBN: 0-78144-911-1
Gift book, 128 pp., $12.99
With short stories and notes
aimed at women who have lost a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth,
this little book retells the author’s painful journey that began when her
baby’s heartbeat went silent. She recalls the agonizing landmarks and holidays
that grieving mothers must face and offers words of encouragement and faith
without platitudes or scolding. With naked truthfulness, Dawn shares her
sorrow and struggles, presenting hope and Christ’s comfort. My only reservation
about giving this book to a grieving mother is that the book ends with
the live birth of a son and the adoption of a daughter, leaving an impression
that healing comes from acquiring replacement children. While happily-ever-after
is almost mandatory for Christian books, it diminishes the principle of
Christ’s healing as opposed to natural healing.
Golden Wisdom for Today’s Woman — Treasured
Portraits of Faith by
Barbara Sims
Cook Communication Ministries
ISBN: 0-79143-469-6
Trade paper, 205 pages, $12.99
At last! Someone has written
a book about women who have a long track record of faithfulness to the
Lord, not simply flash-in-the-pan celebrities! These are cameos of Christian
women who are 75+ years old and have depth perception on life. Favorite
recipes, hymns, and poems accompany the well-written stories.
Calm in My Chaos: Encouragement for a Mom’s
Weary Soul by
Elisabeth K. Corcoran
Kregel Publications
ISBN 0-8254-2388-0
Trade paper, 155 pages, $10.99
The mother of preschoolers will
just have time to read one of the 45, short, funny, poignant meditations
while Junior finger paints the wall with oatmeal. Elisabeth concisely uses
the everyday joys and challenges of motherhood to teach encouraging Bible
truths in a homey, easy-to-read manner. Each reflection begins with a Bible
verse, then a story based on a situation with which any young mother can
identify, a “Personal Touch” — euphemism for “life application” — and a
prayer. This book would be a good gift for a new mom or any exhausted mother
of preschoolers. It is also set up to be useful for a devotional thought
for a mothers group. A handy index in included in the front of the book.
Silver and Gold by Linda E. Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson
Navpress
ISBN 1-57683-343-7
Hardcover, $10
This sweet little book highlights
friendships between well-known authors and speakers and their confidants.
The 40+ short stories are touching vignettes of love and loyalty. Illustrated
with snapshots, the book would make a wonderful gift for birthdays, Mother’s
Day, or a “just because you’re special” occasion.
Princess to Princess: Your Inheritance
as a Daughter of the King by
Kathy Collard Miller
Cook Communications
ISBN: 1-78143-821-7
Trade paper, 176 pages
Written with an experienced
hand, Kathy retells familiar Bible stories with the sly skill of a master
expositor. Highlighting self-esteem issues that are epidemic among women,
Kathy blasts away at truisms and delves to the heart of the issues from
a Biblical point-of-view. The chapters are short and would make a good
basis for a 24-week discussion group or further Bible study.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
 |
Rebekah Montgomery has
over 30 years experience as a pastor/teacher. She is the author of
six books, numerous magazine and newspaper articles,
camp and Bible school curriculum, and was editor of 8 nationally known
magazines. In addition to editing Right
to the Heart of Women,
Mrs. Montgomery writes a five-times-a-week e-mail inspirational
column, Fresh News From Heaven. She speaks on a variety of subjects.
Contact her at rmontgomery@rebekahmontgomery.com. |
| Kris Bearss is
a veteran speaker, publishing professional and longtime mentor, Kris
Bearss has written three books and dozens of articles. She is the
Editorial Director at Integrity Publishers in Brentwood, TN, and
is publisher of Leading Women™, a mentor-in-print that seeks to develop,
equip and sustain Christian women in all arenas of leadership. To
receive a free issue or to contact her to speak to your group, write
to kdbearss@juno.com or
P.O. Box 111, Brentwood, TN 37024-0111. |
 |
 |
Virelle Kidder is
a former radio talk show host, now a fulltime writer and speaker,
Virelle encourages women on their spiritual journey.
Author of three books, she is currently working on two new ones.
Contact her at http://www.virellekidder.com or vkidder@quixnet.net. |
 |
Golden
Keyes Parson is a Bible teacher who challenges women to live extraordinary
lives. She is a trained CLASS speaker and writer who enjoys
speaking at women's events and also leads marriage conferences
along with her husband, Blaine. They both minister at Faith
Mountain Fellowship Church in Red River, NM. You can reach
her at GPar0719@aol.com or call her at 505-754-1742.
|
| Kari West,
author of Dare to Trust, Dare to Hope Again: Living With Losses
of the Heart, and When He Leaves: Choosing to Live, Love, and
Laugh Again. Links to articles on pornography, sexual addiction,
affairs, deception, etc. can be found on her web site: www.gardenglories.com. |
 |
 |
Pamela Christian is a Bible communicator who understands the demands of a woman’s
life today and is able to speak to deep, personal matters.
Contact her at plchristian@integrity.com or http://www.pamelachristianministries.com
|
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Right to the Heart is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit ministry which specializes in
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Evans Shepherd, as a nationally syndicated feature. For more information on
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