Hearts in Service Blog

God has been steering me down the road of leadership over the past decade and as the eldest child in my family who was given much responsibility, I'm a natural born leader. But that doesn't mean I always like it. It's a heavy mantle to wear at times and not one that I wear lightly.  Here are ten things I'm learning as I lead: 1. I'm learning a lot about myself - strengths and weaknesses.  2. I'm learning that leadership doesn't come with an instruction manual. 3. I have learned that sometimes people can be disgruntled just because you are not the previous leader and that I have to be okay with that. 4. I have learned that some people are an absolute joy to work with and others will complain and find fault no matter what because that's their nature. I have to be okay with that too and not take it to heart. 5. I've learned that bearing the weight of responsibility is not possible if I don't stay connected to the vine.  6. I am learning to have sche...

Isaiah 49:6 ~ He says, “It is not enough for you to be My Servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Revelation 7:9 ~ After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. My first intense exposure to missions was as a student in college in the early 1980’s. I remember sitting in rapt attention as different international workers would speak and share their stories. I would feel a deep desire stirring within my soul. God had instilled within me a heart to reach the nations. I wanted to go overseas as a missionary.  And yet, due to various circumstances, that was not to be. But that same stirring is still within me. I do my best to support missions in other ways. God, in His g...

I've been missing in action here for more than a week. In that time, we've celebrated a birthday (my eldest's), went to a conference for a few days, ministry activities, and just been overall busy. Plus, to be honest, I just haven't had much to say. Yesterday afternoon, I spent getting ready for today's farmer's market. I'm torn with doing it because it takes such a large chunk out of my Saturdays. However, as a people person who is alone most of my days it affords me the opportunity to get out in the community and be around people. I've met new acquaintences. I've gotten some business opportunities, including being interviewed for a local television channel next Saturday about my cookbook and plant-based eating. Being at the market meets a need I have for connection. We moved here seven years ago and there are days when it's a challenge. It has been difficult to establish deep connections with some. I'm not sure why some people hold us at ar...

  I love spring as it ushers in song birds, blooming flowers, greenery every where I look and the renewal of all things. Nature comes alive and everything is fresh and new. Of course, here in the northeast, we still have chilly days and nights but overall it's refreshing to know that warm temperatures are on the way.  I have renewed energy and renewed hope. The extended and brighter days also reveals corners in my house that need a refreshing and cleaning. With a very quiet few days ahead of me I plan on doing some spring cleaning out of those corners and a refresh and reset in my house.  I got out and walked at the local audubon center the other day as that is one of the places that is a healing balm to my soul. Ministry is hard and sometimes, people can be difficult. And for me, being able to connect to the Lord while out in creation is essential. I find as I walk and pray, think and photograph my spirit is renewed and refreshed. I come home better able to deal with iss...

I had anticipated the beginning of last week with high hopes. My new book, Fostering a Positive Ministry Environment, had been accepted into a bundle and was heavily marketed to a wider audience than I have. I was excited about it and spent weeks getting it ready to release. The time arrived and I pictured lots of social media sharing and while the e-book was offered for free for the three days of the bundle, I also had a paperback available on Amazon. Last Monday I awoke with anticipatory glee! After a week and a half I can safely say that the response from that bundle was just "meh". It really didn't produce much of anything and I was deflated.  The other downside to being part of this bundle was that I had to heavily do self-promotion which I absolutely hate. It's uncomfortable for me and I would rather have others just kindly share for me rather than me having to do it myself.   It is a new week and with some reflection, I realize that some good has come from it.....

I have many unfinished projects laying around my house. Quilts I started and never finished. Writings that I started and  they sit on my laptop, and piles of paperwork waiting to be filed. I have some good intentions that I never followed through on in my life. However, the one thing in my life that I don't want to leave unfinished is the ministry that the Lord has given to me. That nudge from the Holy Spirit to keep pressing on and finish my race is the thing that motivates me each day.  There are many distractions that threaten to derail the completion of the task and to veer me off course. Things such as worries about my family or other issues, distractions going on in the world,  my own failings at times, other people's opinions about what I should or shouldn't be doing, and  on it goes. These distractions can keep me unfocused or wanting to throw in the towel.  And yet, I want to press on and continue to follow the path that God has given me. He has given m...

I'm getting ready to spend the last day of this never-ending January at a conference. It's 4 a.m. and Dan and I will be headed out in a couple of hours to drive the hour and a half to get there. To be honest, I don't really feel like going since it's 8 degrees out and I also have a long list of things I could be doing. But the main reason I'm attending is we have a couple of younger people from our church going and I want to encourage them, especially the young woman who is attending.  I turned 64 last weekend and there is part of me that feels as if my time is over, but then I remember I still have much to offer. I'm finding that as I age that the opportunities in my life are less about me and more about coming alongside the next generation and helping them lead and grow.  I head up a writing team for our national women's group and what I've been doing is seeking out younger women who normally may not have an opportunity to write for a larger audience. ...

Last week consisted of decorating, baking, studying,  jam-making, cleaning, Bible study, Zoom meetings, preaching, an outreach event, and all sorts of other activities both at home and in ministry. Ministry is kind of an eclectic thing around here and there are many ups and downs. I love every moment of it, but it's not always a bed of roses. Lest anyone think it's all excitment let me share a bit of what ministry is like, at least in my world.  ---> It's vacuuming up crumbs after little ones. ---> It's putting out weekly fires. ---> There are high points, but there are also many low points. ---> It's driving an hour away to purchase kitchen supplies for an upcoming dinner. ---> It's plunging toilets in the middle of an outreach event. Yes, that actually happened on Saturday. We open up our building for people to come and use the bathrooms, get warm, and get cookies and hot cocoa during the city's annual Christmas parade). It was at that momen...

  Christmas preparations are in full swing here and the snow is setting the mood as I prepare. I finished decorating our house this week, started making a couple of batches of cookies for an event this weekend, purchased tickets for The Nutcracker next weekend and braved the cold to get some exercise. I blame my front porch sign for all of the snow. 😀 I've been working on a message for Sunday about Mary's reaction to the message that the angel, Gabriel, brought to her. Her reaction was acceptance and humble submission to God's plan for her life. I want to accept the things God has for me, but I fear that I often fight against it.  It's been a good season to reflect on these things.  I cohosted a gathering of women from around the globe early yesterday morning and I'm thankful for my role on the team that put it together. Just when I'm tempted to complain about something (including getting up early to have a meeting), I see women who are up in the middle of the ...

Hilary of Tours ~  "Busyness is a blasphemous anxiety to do God's work for Him." I've shared this quote here before and it is a good reminder for me as I continually seek to create space in my life. At times my busyness in ministry is an internal sense that if I don't do a particular activity then it will seem as if I am ineffective.  But here is the lesson I'm learning. God does not need my activity to work and accomplish His will. He is at work despite my busyness.  Jesus says the following in John 5:19-20, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed." Jesus Himself stated that He could not do anything independently from the Father. He came alongside the Father to work in tande...

My flight from Texas touched down at 10:30 last night and by the time I collected my baggage and drove the hour and 45 minutes home it was almost 1 a.m. What a beautiful weekend it was! I met some new friends and reconnected with some long-time friends. I was able to listen to, and pray for women who have had major heartbreak and trauma in their lives. I'm thankful for those who told me that my messages and story ministered to them. I thankful for those who shared their stories with me and loved having these meaningful conversations with women of all different ages - from young to older. I wasn't sure what to expect this weekend, but what I discovered was a beautiful, ethnically diverse group of women and found an instant connection with them. It was a long way to go to speak, but I am thankful for the weekend because it also solidified the unique calling the Lord has given to me.  I'm starting out my Monday with a renewed spring in my step and ready to move forward into th...

I've been in a few cities in the United States that have traffic lights with crosswalks. At these crosswalks you have to push a button in order to have the light change color. Once you push the button it takes a few minutes for it to change from green to red and there is a recorded voice that says, "Wait!" over and over again. It can start to grate on your nerves hearing it repeat the word continuously, but the reality is if you don't wait there is a chance you will get hit by a car. Impatience can have devastating effects! Yesterday, I was in a prayer group of other pastors and ministry leaders and as we were praying a retired pastor prayed the phrase, "Waiting is the ministry, Lord." That resonated with me because it's been where I've felt stuck the past year or so. I feel like I'm in a waiting pattern and at times, feel very impatient.  The truth is I don't like waiting and I don't like it when God seems silent. It feels as if nothing ...

Ministry can be tiring and there can be moments of wanting to throw in the towel. But then there are also those moments when someone's life is changed and I think, "There it is." "This is the reason I keep pressing on." There were a few of those "aha" moments this past weekend. I opened up my Bible to read this morning and this was the passage I landed on.  Psalm 116:12-14 ~  How can I repay the  Lord  for all the good he has done for me?  I wil take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the  Lord .  I  will fulfill my vows to the  Lord in the presence of all his people. God has been so good to me despite my inadequacies. I want to continue to press into the calling He gave me so many years ago. His goodness is there even when I forget to recognize it.  It's there in the good times and the bad. It's there when others praise you or when they criticize. It's there in times of abundance or times of scarcity.  David is asking a q...

I leave later this morning for my weekend retreat and I'm enjoying the peace and solititude before the busyness begins. It's about a 4  & 1/2 hour car ride with stops. I really don't mind driving as it gives me time to reflect and pray or listen to music and podcasts. I'm leaving a day early because I'm staying with a friend and this way I'm not traveling and jumping right into the weekend. I can have a slow start tomorrow morning and take my time setting up. I love the many layers of these events. I enjoy prepping and event-planning. Of course, as with any sort of event-planning, no matter how organized I am there is always something that goes awry. Someone doesn't read all the information or there is a snafu thrown into the mix. But for the most part, I'm prepared and am praying that it's a good weekend. The main thing I'm praying is that God would help me keep my eyes and ears open and that I would be able to listen well to others so that ...

  I received a text this week from a woman from a local agency who works with those who are in need. She said they had a client who was looking for a church connection and could use some mentoring. She wanted to know if this was something I would be interested in. Of course, I said, "Yes!" and to be honest, was thinking that it was neat that she thought I would be a good mentor to this young lady. But then she said something that made me laugh out loud. She said, "She really could use a mother figure in her life." So my so-called mentoring  skills  were really more about me having a mom-vibe! 😀 I admit it. I do exude "mom" probably to all I meet. In fact, my sister-in-law said I'm like Kanga in Winnie the Pooh. I know I'm happy when I'm caring for others. In fact, I recently did a personality/work assessment that said one of my natural gifts is coming alongside others and helping them accomplish what they need to get done.  Anyway, I've de...