Sabbath 24th September 2016
Ignite
“…when we acknowledge God’s supreme role in our life and set our mind on Him, He enables us to be women of hope. ~ Elizabeth George”
Everything that eventuates begins with a simple idea. Our idea was that we wanted a safe and free space for women to discuss ideas, concerns and topics that are relevant to them and other Christian women. Not only that, but with such a motivated group of ladies, we could all create a great support network and do things that would benefit the community around us. The Bible speaks of the worth of a godly woman as being “far above rubies”. Also in Song of Solomon we find just how precious we women are to Jesus, “Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.” (Song of Solomon 2:2, NEB). Christ delights to spend time with us “My beloved is mine and I am his; he delights in the lilies.” (Song of Solomon 2:16, NEB). We, as his precious children and lilies among thorns, have a special claim upon the heart of God and so as women we have a special and powerful role to play in whatever sphere we find ourselves in. Thus, ‘Ignite’ was born and we held our first meeting on the 24th of September 2016, and, needless to say, there were some fantastic ideas and experiences shared.
As we began, many issues surrounding community and leadership surfaced. How could we be more supportive of each other and our church community? What activities could we participate in and organise that would benefit ourselves but also others around us? One thing was certain, our diversity as individuals would guarantee that there was no one size fits all solution. We needed to dig much deeper. Other points we discussed were, do we feel supported as women in our local churches? What could we be doing more? Or less? The aim of this gathering was to spend an afternoon together sharing our ideas and experiences in ways that would help our church community. It was also an opportunity to explore ways to build up and support one another in our personal walk with God. However, a gathering such as this is not complete without a delicious meal, which we all contributed towards and was enjoyed.
At length, one of the main things that surfaced was that we would like more opportunities to fellowship together. Creating more opportunities to outreach to the community through practical means was one of the ways in which we can do this. Some of the activities and ideas which were voiced and Lord willing we will be putting into action are: packing birthing kits for women in Uganda, providing food and clothing to those in need, child activity days, a knitting circle, a book club, exercise days, BBQ’s and concerts. This is just naming a few of the activities. The meeting closed with an activity where we each wrote a small note to each other which highlighted something that we really appreciated about the other person. I felt very encouraged and warmed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the women in my church community to make a difference right where they are. The thing is, we are the lights of the world, we are the ones who can make a difference in this often dark and sorrow-filled world. The point is to LET our light shine. In everything that we do and everywhere that we go, we are a beacon of hope to so many who have been beaten down and have lost their way. Author Nancy Leigh DeMoss once said that:
“True holiness isn’t cold and deadening – it’s warm and inviting. It’s irresistible. Those who think otherwise have never seen it, but only its caricatures.”
So, what is our aim? Ignite! Ignite others with God’s love. Ignite others with hope. Ignite them with a desire for true holiness and in the process our lights will shine brighter. Ignite others by telling them of your experience in Jesus, and this will draw others to a life of true meaning and fulfilment.
~ Daniela Balarezo