Be intentional about putting God first in all things, no matter what is pressing in on you or screaming for your attention. Make time first thing to pray, read His Word, and seek Him for wisdom each day. When you feel yourself falling out of step, making hard choices, and wondering how to do life, reach out to Him with all your might. He will be there for you, waiting to restore your perspective.

Assess your strengths and weaknesses. God created you just the way He wanted you. He gave you strengths with which to bless others and weaknesses to teach you how to depend on others. He did not make you capable of being all things to all people. As women, I think it is easy to try to do that, which will make you crazy. When you work towards your strengths and accept your weaknesses, you can set up your own personal boundaries that will keep you from being out of balance.

Look for what can be delegated. Based on what you know to be your limitations, find other people in your life who are gifted in that area and let them bless you and others by working towards their strengths. This is simple, yet we forget it in the busyness of life. We try to “just take care of it” and frustrate ourselves and others in the process.

Allow others to help, don’t try to be superwoman! This ties into delegating. Sometimes it is hard to ask for help. You don’t want to bother other people or you feel like it makes you look helpless. Don’t fall into that trap! The reality is there is probably someone out there who would love to feel needed if you would only ask. Remember to affirm their strengths and compliment a job well done when you do receive help from others, too.

“No” is not a dirty word. Learn to say it. If you are being asked to do something you can’t fit into your life, you can say no and live to tell about it. Experience the freedom of saying no, and get things off your to-do list instead of constantly adding to it. This will bring balance back into your life, and your family will thank you for learning this valuable skill!

Control is just an illusion. You never were in control, and you never will be. God is in control. So, don’t try to control your world by doing everything yourself and being everything to everybody. You simply can’t, and you will only drive yourself crazy. If you are guilty of wrestling the control from God, make prayer a part of your surrendering process. Ask God to step in and affirm in your heart that He is in control, and you are not.

Eliminate the unnecessary. This can mean unnecessary attitudes and expectations you might be guilty of having. It can also mean unnecessary appointments, meetings and obligations. You don’t have to serve on every board, chair every committee, and volunteer at every event. Go through your calendar and your to-do list and pray over it. Ask God to show you what you can eliminate. Then do so immediately. This will add white space into your life and bring about the blessings of balance!

Submitted by: Marybeth Whalen
www.marybethwhalen.com

Here are three very different theme ideas that can be used for a Fall Kick-Off or Ministry Introduction Event.

Theme: Show Your Team Spirit!

Scripture: two verses
2 Peter 3:18 ‘but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’
1 Peter 4:10 ‘As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another.’

Description: This is a showcase event for all the ministries available to women at our church using a "team" theme.

Promotion: Flyers, bulletin announcements and web ad describing who, what, when and where; and using a football themed design. All promotional materials use the phrase ‘every woman is part of God’s team... and no one sits on the bench!’

Set Up/Decoration: Use local school colors and decorate with footballs, cheerleading uniforms, and band uniforms. Feature a fun “breakthrough” poster to introduce the “coaching staff.” Also, use ‘homecoming’ type flowers/decoration - flags, and pom-poms. The general idea is to create the feeling of a giant Pep Rally.
Food: Potluck style, ask the women to bring tail-gate food.

Program:
Open with Monday Night Football music or school fight song
Welcome and Explanation of Event
What’s Your Position (spiritual gifts survey)
Door Prize (bible-study on spiritual gifts- random drawing)
Meal
Ministry Playbook- includes Ministry calendar, directory, & growing and serving opportunities. Each leader should give a short description and invitation of/to their Bible Study, service project, etc.
Ministry Interest Survey
Door Prize (tail-gate party basket- random drawing)

After the Event: Collate Ministry Interest Survey and meet with the women's ministry leadership team to discuss results.

Theme: County Fair - God’s Harvest

Scripture: Psalm 67:6 ‘Then the land will yield its harvest and God, our God, will bless us.’

Description: A showcase event for all the ministries available to women using a county fair theme.

Promotion:Invitations and bulletin announcements will have a county fair theme with quilts, canned goods and blue ribbons. Feature a pie baking contest.

Set Up/Decoration: Lots of balloons, ribbons quilts, art, canning, recently harvested fruits & vegetables, photos of carnival rides, checked tablecloths, etc. creating a fun carnival, picnic atmosphere.

Food: Potluck style. Ask the women to bring ‘fair’ food- freshly harvested fruits & veggies, corn dogs, turkey legs, funnel cakes, caramel apples, popcorn, etc.

Program:
Carnival Games w/small prizes
Welcome and Explanation of Event
Meal
Concert/Special Music during dinner
Find Your Event (spiritual gifts survey)
Door Prize (bible-study on spiritual gifts- random drawing)
Event Show - includes description of Ministry calendar, directory, & growing and serving opportunities. Each leader should give a short description and invitation of/to their Bible Study, service project, etc.
Pie Contest Winner Announced
Event Judging (ministry interest survey)
Door Prize (quilt/afghan/canned goods- random drawing)

After the Event: Collate Ministry Interest Survey and meet with the women's ministry leadership team to discuss results.

Theme: Back to School - Learning God’s Ways

Scripture: Psalm 25:4 ‘Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths.’

Description: An event to introduce the women's ministries events and studies for the next semester.

Promotion: Using a "we are all students" theme, women are encouraged to attend the event to learn more about women's ministries. They are asked to bring: a sack lunch for exchange, an old school picture of themselves, and school supplies to be donated to needy children.

Set Up/Decoration: Fill the room with school supplies, chalk, chalkboards, old yearbooks, school books, and apples.

Food: Everyone brings a sack lunch to exchange (have a few extra on hand, just in case!)

Program:
Guess Who photo game (with school pictures)
Welcome and Explanation of Event
Recognition of Teachers
Register for Class (spiritual gifts survey)
Door Prize (bible-study on spiritual gifts- random drawing)
Meal
Women’s Ministry 101- includes description of Ministry calendar, directory, & growing and serving opportunities. Each leader should give a short description and invitation of/to their Bible Study, service project, etc.
Final Exam (ministry interest survey)
Supply Drive

After the Event: Collate Ministry Interest Survey and meet with the women's ministry leadership team to discuss results. Deliver supplies to United Way collection center, or school secretary for distribution.

Objective: To help our ladies "shape up" both physically and spiritually

Description: Once a week we have an exercise night at church, followed by our "First Place" Bible Study. We meet each Thursday night and work out to a walk/aerobic tape. We then transition into our weight loss/bible study class.

We purchased an exercise tape that everyone could do, and we researched the First Place program at www.firstplace.org .

Everyone bought their own materials for the Bible study and any necessary exercise equipment.

After that we were ready to get together for two hours of fun, fellowship, Bible study and exercise. In other words, we were ready to "Shape Up!"

Submitted by: L. Trump of Everett, WA

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