Fruitfulness – Page 4 – Women's Ministry

Friendship, Fruitfulness, Life Groups, Prayer

Community Within a Life Group

August 16, 2014December 28, 2016by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

When I think of a thriving life group, I equate it with the word community. Life groups are really special to me because the leaders and people who attend those groups are fun to be with. In the life group that I attend, I’ve noticed that we are all a conglomeration of mixed personalities and occupations. But within our life group, we find the common ground of praying for each other and encouraging each others’ walk with the Lord.

The leaders of my group have a good grasp on what it means to live a life fully serving the Lord. While we are discussing the questions of the week based on Sunday’s sermon, they are always eager to listen to our stories and share their own experiences, too. Even they will admit that they do not have all the answers, and that they certainly don’t live a perfect life. But what makes my life group so personal to me is that they are trying to follow the Lord and are willing to share joys and hardships that they have experienced. This type of vulnerability makes it easier for everyone in the group to open up and share any questions or related situations we’ve faced.

I have two favorite parts of my life group! One is the food that is served! I’ve been to some life groups who ask each person to bring a dish and share a potluck dinner before the previous week’s sermon is discussed. In our group we have elected to pay five dollars each week to have a homemade meal. It is delicious! Another favorite of mine is the time that we take to pray for each other. Currently our life group leaders have decided to choose a person or couple to pray for throughout the week. Then the following week, the entire group is invited to share what they have heard from the Lord about that person. Our leaders also open up the floor to anyone who needs prayer, and our group prays for individual requests of the week. This prayer time helps everyone in our group to have a part in the fellowship and spiritual aspect of our life group, and I think it is vital in building a community.

What is your favorite part of life groups?

If you are not currently involved in a life group, now is a great time to join one! Life Groups kick off for the fall semester on August 20th! Click here to learn more about life groups, find a group that fits you and your family, and get plugged in to community! You can also pick up a copy of the Life Group Directory in the church foyer on Sunday mornings.

This post was written by Hannah Dillard.

Friendship, Fruitfulness

Choosing Life

August 1, 2014by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

“A heart at peace gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30)

I’ve noticed something recently. It’s almost “under the radar,” but I feel myself going there again. It’s that place where I am comparing myself to others, and am hunting for their approval or confirmation of my value. The evidence comes in some of the most subtle ways: My constant checking of Facebook for the umpteenth time, as well as thoughts of jealousy or “sizing up.”

Sometimes it sounds like this: “She is so much better at [fill in the blank] than I am.”
“Why does she get [fill in the blank] and I don’t?”
It doesn’t matter how we fill in the own blanks in our hearts, it’s still there—A feeling of lack: that we don’t have enough, or that we are missing something (often something that we feel entitled to). This especially feels prevalent when it comes to other women. Instead of being inspired, or rejoicing with another woman’s strengths, we find ourselves falling into the deep pit of comparison.

How I react when I get in this place may differ. I may try to work harder or make myself busier. Or I may try to drown out my thoughts and feelings in hours of Netflix shows. But the root issue is the same, and I have to deal with it.

It is here that I have a choice to make. Only I have control over my heart, and what I choose can change where I end up.

Recently at church, Brad shared that what we do is not tied to who we are. Yes, God may convict us to change our thinking and actions in a certain area to agree with Him (repent), but He does not do this to shame us. This is to bless us. It’s getting us to walk a better path.

Right in the middle of the church service, I literally had to take a deep breath and hand some things over to God that I had been struggling with that very morning. God reminded me of the truth of who I am, and I was able to receive it right there in that moment. And you know what else I received? Peace. Almost immediately, because I chose to trust God’s heart and immediately say “yes” to what He says about me.

It’s not always easy, and sometimes I have to do this multiple times a day. But I am learning that as my heart stays open to God’s stirring, and I respond in the midst of the “everyday,” it makes life so much better. So instead of comparing myself to other women and being jealous, I want to choose life. I want to be a life-giving person. I can choose to come alongside other women and celebrate their successes. I can cheer them on and encourage them, and not give way to bitterness. In return, I am able to walk in peace and joy and thankfulness.

This post was written by Heather Dillard. To read more about her, click here.

Fruitfulness, Prayer

Hearing God – Part 2

May 15, 2014May 15, 2014by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

(This is the second half of a post from Tissie Beasley on learning to hear from God for ourselves and for others. To read Part 1, click here.)

Hearing from God and talking with him is like having a conversation with an intimate friend. When you spend time with them long enough, and sit and listen intently, you hear their heart. When we spend time with Jesus, we hear His heart for us and for others.

Relationships take time to build. Close intimate ones don’t happen overnight. Here are some practical ways to hear God for yourself and others:

1. Be a willing vessel. God wants to speak; we just need to be willing to listen and then respond. Listening is only half of it; we need to be willing to respond and act on what we hear. Be obedient.

2. Have a sincere heart and love for people. This comes from being in the presence of the Lord. The more we are full of him and his love the more natural it is to love people.

3. Position yourself in a place to hear his voice. To hear God clearly we have to make time to do so. Spending time in his Word and praying opens our heart to hear him. Just remember, this is not a “to do” list, but spiritual disciplines help draw us close to the heart of God, and allow us to commune with him. God shares his heart for us and others when we walk in close relationship with him.

4. Believe that God wants to and is speaking to you! His heart is for you. He has passionately pursued you, so trust that he wants to speak to you. Here is what Jeremiah 33:2-3 says: “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Here is the same verse in the Message: “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’” God wants to speak!

5. Have a trusted mentor, life group leader, or pastor who can help you discern the voice of God. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), and surrounding yourself with people who are strong in the Lord and who can encourage you is so powerful. We are not in this alone, and God uses others to help us grow. If you hear a word for someone, run it by a leader or mentor, especially if it is correctional. My experience is that God uses us mostly to speak words of love and exhortation to others. Be careful when speaking correction to someone. God’s heart is not for us to go around correcting one another, but for us to build one another up. Ephesians 4:16 says, “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

6. Something that has forever changed my life is the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Being filled and empowered daily by God’s Spirit has opened my eyes, heart and ears to hear and see Him more clearly, and to act boldly and with confidence. It is one of my most precious relationships, and I am very intentional about making time and a way for God’s Spirit to work in and through me.

Be encouraged today that God wants to speak to you, and that he desires to use you to reach and minister to others. Be obedient even in the things you think might be small and unimportant. You never know what will minister to the heart of someone else and impact their life.

This post was written by Tissie Beasley. To read more about her, click here.

Fruitfulness, Prayer

Hearing God – Part 1

May 1, 2014by hcfwomen2 Comments

What do you do when a face or a name pops in your head? Do you dismiss it, or do you ask God how you can pray for this person? It may sound silly, but I believe God is constantly speaking to us and pulling us outside of ourselves into relationships with others. One way is through our thoughts: God places different people in our thoughts that he wants us to connect with.

Sometimes all the connection we will make is in the spiritual, by praying for them.

It’s early Monday morning, and I awaken with a friend on my heart. As I begin to pray, I feel a deep burden for them and hear a specific scripture in my heart. I begin to pray that scripture over my friend and the peace begins to come in my heart. God prompts me to share this scripture with them so I write a quick text: “Thinking of you this morning, this scripture is on my heart for you…praying God’s abundant grace and peace over you today.” I think sometimes we complicate God. He speaks; we just need to learn to discern.

I love the way God speaks! It comes in different forms, but I find that God speaks primarily in 3 ways: through His written Word (the Bible), through others, and directly to us. All are important and all come through relationship. Our God is a relational God. The Bible says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is the Word of God in the flesh, and by his coming to the earth, he created a way for us to have a relationship with the living, breathing Word of God, and hear him speak directly to us—because now we can have an intimate relationship with him.

Hearing God is a matter of the heart, a positioning of one’s self. A hard heart can’t hear God clearly. Unless there are holes or cracks, nothing can get in or out. God wants to speak to us. He is looking for people who have a desire to hear him, to receive what he has to say, and to act on it. Hear me, this is not about more work you can do to hear God better. It is about a relationship. God wants to be pursued, and he speaks to those who eagerly pursue him. He is constantly pursuing us and drawing us to Him. When we turn and do the same, our hearts become open to hear Him. He says you will find him when you seek him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

This post was written by Tissie Beasley. To read more about her, click here. Stay tuned for Part 2 later this month!

Fruitfulness, Trust

New Year, New Thoughts

February 13, 2014July 6, 2015by hcfwomen2 Comments

New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t keep them very well. However, at the beginning of the year, I was spending time with the Lord, and he gave me a word of this being a year of new confidence and boldness. He confirmed this continuously over the next couple of weeks through people in my life group, his Word, and just daily occurrences that used to make me insecure or anxious; I was now confident and relaxed. So, I am choosing daily to trust him; and I have been continuously blessed by this. This new season is not a result of a new year’s resolution; it is the result of the Lord’s faithfulness and hand in my life. This fact helps me know that this time, it is not changing; this time, I am changed, and am now seeing true freedom.

I wish that I could take the past few years of my life and have a “re-do.” I wish I would have been able to walk with confidence in who I was, and find myself secure enough to let people get to know me—flaws and all. I wish I could have been able to say, “This is who I am,” and welcome people into my life, instead of walking in with guards up and walls up.

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a group recently where I work. We were talking about life: what we go through and the importance of community. In that conversation, the point was brought up that God is in fact the author of our lives and stories, but he wants us to take an active role in those stories. I wish things would have been different, but the truth is, I could not have gotten to where I am now if it weren’t for my story. I do not like where I have been, but I would not change it because it’s how I can now prove the Lord’s sovereign grace and faithfulness. I believe I have come a long way; and this journey I have with the Lord only gets better.

Does this mean that I have reached perfection? Absolutely not! In fact, more growth will happen. It does mean that I know what it feels like to be in a place of internal captivity, brought on by not trusting or believing the Lord, and I do not want to go back there. Will I have moments where my flesh fails? Yes. But I trust in those moments that the Lord is faithful to his Word.

All of this to say: I am grateful for the journey, and for the valuable people He uses to speak to our hearts. I am also grateful for those people who are kingdom-minded and want to see us reach our potential in the Holy Spirit, and create environments to thrive in the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. I would not go back, but would not change my story, because it’s how the Lord works specifically in my life. It is good.

“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rachael Montgomery is from Slaton, Texas. She is currently at Lubbock Christian University getting her Masters in Counseling. She wants to get her LPC (License of Professional Counseling) and work with children and adolescents. Rachael has a twin sister, and she loves coffee.

What kind of ministry are you most passionate about?
I have a passion for worship. I have a heart for seeing kids experience the Lord at a young age, and getting to know him early in life. Also, I have a heart to help facilitate children in learning who they are and their role in the kingdom early in life.

What is one quirky fact about you?
My wreck count is up to 6 with only 2 of them being my fault. 😉

Budgeting, Fruitfulness, Giving, Identity, Love, Trust

The Heart of Giving

January 22, 2014July 6, 2015by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

Over a year ago, God placed some specific financial goals on the hearts of both Derek and I, so that we could ultimately give to others. Since the very get-go of this journey, I hunkered down and decided to give my very best.

Recently, God revealed to me the true motivation of my heart in deciding to give my best. It came about when Derek decided that we needed to wait on purchasing something I’ve wanted for a while. We had the ability to walk out of the store with my “toy” in hand, but all I walked out with was a crummy attitude.

I knew the reaction in my heart wasn’t due to just being told “No.” There was a deeper reason for why I truly believed I needed that item. Not even just needed, but deserved it. God showed me that deep down the true reason of why I worked so hard in meeting our goals wasn’t the freedom to give to others, but the freedom to consume things on myself. Instantly my heart turned to repentance and an honest prayer came out: “God, I want to have the heart of a true giver.”

The next morning, God took me to 2 Corinthians 9:6-9, 11:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work…He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.”

God showed me that the theme of this passage isn’t finances, but it’s the heart of giving. Realizing this, I read it again. This time, the words grace, sufficiency and righteousness stood out. Understanding that my righteousness in Christ means I’m complete, whole and lacking nothing, and that grace (God’s ability or power) reigns through righteousness, the passage came alive. God says that when we give from a heart that believes in its true state of righteousness, he will make all grace abound so we can ultimately give to others.

If I give from a heart of lack, then I will be reluctant to give. I will want to keep my resources for myself so as to meet my own needs. If in that attitude I choose to not give at all, I’m saying no to more than just the giving of my resources. I’m saying no to grace abounding in my life and an increase to the harvest of my righteousness.

Whether it’s giving time to a friend in need, genuine love to those in our family, or full surrender to God in our moments of pain, we all have something to give.

This post was written by Abbie Kellum. To read more about her, click here.

Fruitfulness, Worship

Daily Worship

October 14, 2013December 28, 2016by hcfwomen1 Comment

When I called my dad for his birthday this year, he reminded me of something that a family friend had told me. He got a word from the Lord for me about worship. Dad said that this was biblically-based because of Romans 12:1—

“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship” (TNIV).

I don’t often just stop and think about worship. There’s the obvious “worship time” during church, or even during my personal time with the Lord, but worship is more than that. Worship is how I live my life. It’s something that I do daily, consciously putting the daily activities of my life in the hands of the Lord. There are some obvious times that I feel compelled by the Lord to do something (usually something I wouldn’t ordinarily want to do) or in a burst of joy just thank Him in the middle of the day. But in what other ways do I express worship for the Lord?

From personal experience which I know many of you can relate to, I work with people and students throughout my entire day. By the end of a really long day, it is hard for me to continue to be kind to those around me. But in the last couple years I’ve had to learn that I must give my day to the Lord. As I’m driving to school I pray for whatever situation I might encounter. I’ve even dubbed a song that I use to pray over my students this year! It’s amazing to see personalities and hearts change throughout the year, more than just academically.

I know that the people that I have relationships with–whether I am aware of it at the time or not–weigh the way that they approach situations based on other situations that they’ve had throughout the day. I have the opportunity to be a positive influence in their day, even if that means simply smiling, asking about their day, and actually listening.

Recently I’ve had to ask myself, Does the way that I convey myself around people actually reflect my heart? In some cases sadly, I would have to say that no, it doesn’t. But by focusing on God’s point of view in every situation, it helps me to tune my actions to match my heart. My words can be more than just rote conversation. Rather, it can be an uplifting encouragement that comes directly from the Lord! I pray that you can face the daily pressures of life and still experience the unique joys that surround you every day. God can surprise you! What ways does the Lord use to speak to you, even in the midst of the busyness of the day? I cannot wait to see what God does with the people around me as our hearts become more focused on worshiping Him!

This post was written by Hannah Dillard.

Fruitfulness, Women's Retreat

What If We Were Real

September 20, 2013by hcfwomenLeave a Comment

There’s a song by Mandisa that says:
“What if I share my brokenness,
What if you share how you feel,
What if we weren’t afraid of this crazy mess,
What if we were real?”

I’ve been wrestling with this one. Because life is messy, and it doesn’t always turn out the way we planned.

When I was growing up and went to church camp as a young girl and a teenager, I would tell God that I’d do anything, go anywhere for Him. I would ask for Him to take my life and change my heart.

But as I’ve gotten older, I’m learning that sometimes actually following God with all my heart is very painful. Something that sounds as “easy” as healthy relating, or forgiving, or embracing a new season, or surrendering…can be excruciating.

And here I thought I was going to be a missionary across the ocean for the rest of my life…Learning to be vulnerable with the people I live with right here is much harder. Learning to get in God’s truth about me, and be open because I know who I am—even if I might be wounded again…even though I am terrified.

So, what if I’m not “perfect”? What if I don’t measure up in the ways that I think I should?

What if I’m just quirky, emotional, creative, and compassionate? What if I’m the one who loves hot tea and crocheting and singing in the car with the windows down? What if I’m the one who loves standing in the rain, looking at the stars out in the country, and worshipping freely? What if I am far from perfect, but beginning to walk through this season of healing, and learning to be grateful and embrace every moment—no matter what it looks like?

What if I am—what if you are—the one who is healing, learning, loving, forgiving, embracing, rejoicing, interceding, and opening up?

Yes, it can be messy. Yes, it can even be painful. But, it is freeing. And it’s so worth it.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

I’d like to take this time to make a shameless “plug” for the upcoming Life Giving Women’s Retreat. 🙂

Coming to the Women’s Retreat can be intimidating for many. Most probably think at one point or another, “The last place I want to be is spending a whole weekend with a couple hundred other women!” But from the smiling faces that greet you at the door, to the kind room leaders, to the creative ones who decorate the tables so beautifully, you know that this is femininity expressed as you’ve never seen it before. Here, you are encouraged to be real, to be yourself, to laugh out loud, to cry, to be embraced, and to feel inspired.

Every year at the Women’s Retreat, I come away in amazement at the kindness of women. It is a place where you will be challenged to be open and vulnerable, but it is also a place of healing. You will build friendships and be blessed in ways that only godly women can bless other women.

So, choose to take courage, step out, and discover what your heart looks like—as a woman. Please, take the plunge this year—come to the women’s retreat! You can register online by clicking here.

This post was written by Heather Dillard. To read more about her, click here.

Family, Fruitfulness, Identity

Agelessness in the Kingdom

September 14, 2013by hcfwomen1 Comment

God is not confined to time or space, nor are those who dwell in His kingdom here on earth. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was between twelve and fourteen when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. John, the beloved disciple, was only fourteen or fifteen when called to follow Jesus. Abraham was ninety-nine when he was told he would become the father of nations. Moses, Joshua and Caleb were in their eighties when called to serve our God. John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb when Mary entered the room, expectant with Jesus. King David was still in his teens when God chose him as a future king of Israel. Billy Graham is ninety-four. Beth Moore is fifty-six. I turned seventy last Sunday (September 8, 2013).

OUR NUMBERED DAYS
I was surprised to learn that it was Robert Louis Stevenson in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who first coined the phrase “my days are numbered,” and not God. I searched for that phrase in four different translations and could not find it. What I did find was that God knows the number of hairs on my head. Also, I discovered where the psalmist prayed, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, NIV).

KINGDOM FAMILIES
I am fortunate to be part of a church that teaches God’s kingdom on earth is multi-generational, and trains its members that not just men, or women, but families are being called to rise up and become Kingdom Families to reach the lost and dying in our community. I am blessed that I am, at present, being taught that age is no excuse to “retire” in the kingdom of God.

MUCH TO BE DONE YET
One of my dearest and closest friends recently remarked, “There is much to be done, but little time left for us who are beginning the eighth decade of our life.” I knew how she was feeling and shared a similar battle in my mind. “Sweet friend, only God knows when that day will be for us. In the meantime, let us be on with it.” She unreservedly agreed.

This post was written by Linda Hutcherson. To read more about her, click here.

**In this post, Linda mentions HCF’s Kingdom Families, which teaches parents how to raise kids and teenagers who follow after God with all their hearts. We will be having two Kingdom Families conferences soon, one at the Plainview campus for those raising children, and one at the Amarillo campus for those raising teens. Click on these links for more information and to register.**

Boundaries, Fruitfulness

My White Picket Fence

July 1, 2013July 5, 2013by hcfwomen1 Comment

Psalm 16:5-6 “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

When I think about this verse I think of a beautiful white picket fence surrounding a precious little home with a gorgeous yard. The grass is green and lush, and the flowers are in full bloom. The trees are large and cast a glorious shade. Hanging from one of the branches is a swing. On the spacious front porch are a couple of rockers. My husband Michael and I are sitting in the rockers on the front porch watching our three kids play in the front yard. It is absolutely heavenly! All that is inside the picket fence is mine! Outside the fence are my neighbors’ yards, all beautiful in their own unique way—none the same!

In the picture I described, the picket fence is the “boundary lines.” What is inside the picket fence is what God has given me: His best for me! It is who I am and what I was created for. All of God’s gifts and the wonderful treasures he has in store for me lie within this fence, these boundaries.

These so-called boundary lines were designed to be precious and life-giving to me. I have to choose to be thankful for them and enjoy them! This is not always easy. This verse in Psalms is a call to find who Christ has called you to be, who the Father created you to be, and live fully right there!

My boundary lines (who I am and what I was created for) never change, but how I live that out changes with the seasons of life. Part of what God has called me to be is a wife and mom! It is one of my greatest joys. When my kids were little, I stayed home full time. But as they have gotten bigger I have taken on more things outside the home. As another example, I am not a public speaker. It is not my gifting. On the other hand, I love to pray, intercede, dig into God’s Word and minister to people by interceding for them and encouraging them. It is part of what God created me for. It brings life! Discovering this and being okay with it has brought such freedom to me. I have grown and begun to flourish in finding who I am, what my boundaries are, and staying within them.

All that God has for us is found within the parameter of our boundaries. So who are you? What are you created for? Where are your boundary lines? I challenge you to go before God and start asking him. He is longing to show you; He wants to give you his best! And his best is found within your picket fence 🙂

This post was written by Tissie Beasley. To read more about her, click here.